Two women indicted on drug charges

Two women indicted on drug charges
FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Department of Justice Building is pictured

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Tanisha Porter, of Newman, California, and Penny Marie Banky, of Parkersburg, West Virginia, were indicted today on methamphetamine charges, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.

Porter, also known as “T,” 43, and Banky, 68, were charged with one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine” and one count of “Distribution of 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine.” Porter and Banky are accused of working together to sell five grams or more of methamphetamine in June 2022 in Wetzel County and elsewhere.

Porter and Banky each face at least five and up to 40 years of incarceration and a fine of up to 5 million for each count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton J. Reid is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.

An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.