Local Residents Convicted in Major Eastern Panhandle Drug Case
Two Panhandle Residents Found Guilty in Massive Drug Trafficking Operation – Two Fugitives Still At Large
The Panhandle News Network | Friday, February 7, 2025
In a significant drug trafficking case, two residents from Harpers Ferry and Martinsburg have been found guilty for their roles in a large-scale fentanyl and opioid distribution network disrupting communities across the Eastern Panhandle. Lance Wade Cole and Damian Costello participated in a conspiracy alongside numerous defendants, led by Gary Brown, Jr. The investigation, linked to over 100 kilograms of fentanyl, involved extensive collaboration among federal and local agencies, underscoring ongoing concerns about drug-related issues affecting neighborhoods from Ranson to Charles Town. The Panhandle News Network reports that while many have pleaded guilty, two fugitives remain at large.
