MARTINSBURG — Matthew David Viands, 32, of Summit Point, has admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization responsible for distribution of fentanyl and other illicit drugs in the Eastern Panhandle.

Viands was one of 82 defendants charged, 80 of whom have been convicted. One defendant, Charles Delroy Singletary, 44, of Baltimore, Maryland, remains at large, while 59 of the defendants have been sentenced.

Viands, according to court documents, was a distributor of fentanyl for the organization. He also has admitted to failing to appear following his pretrial release in the case. He faces up to 20 years in prison for the drug charges and up to 10 years for failing to appear. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorneys Lara Omps-Botteicher and Kyle Kane. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.

Investigative agencies include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Pittsburgh Field Division and Baltimore Field Division); the Drug Enforcement Administration; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations; the United States Postal Inspection Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the United States Marshals Service; the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the West Virginia Air National Guard; the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office; the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department; Ranson Police Department; Martinsburg Police Department; Charles Town Police Department; the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; Stafford County Sheriff’s Office (Virginia); Frederick County Sheriff’s Office (Maryland); Frederick County Sheriff’s Office (Virginia); Winchester Police Department; and the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office (Virginia).

This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).