U.S. Marshals Month-Long Operation to Combat Violent Crime in Eastern Panhandle Leads to 34 Arrests

Martinsburg, WV - In support of the president’s initiative to reduce violent crime, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Mountain State Fugitive Task Force led a month-long warrant roundup in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia from July 14 to Aug. 15, resulting in 34 arrests.

Operation Monarch, a collaborative effort between the USMS, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, Martinsburg Police Department, Charles Town Police Department, Berkeley County Prosecutors Office and the Jefferson County Prosecutors Office, also led to the seizure of $14,444 in U.S. currency, two handguns, one long gun, more than 400 grams of marijuana and 5 grams of crack cocaine.

Significant arrests:

Julius White, 36, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the subject of a warrant issued March 5 charging him with first-degree armed robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, malicious wounding and felon in possession of a firearm after White and two others were involved in a robbery and shooting incident Sept. 6, 2024. During the botched robbery, White pistol whipped the victim, resulting in a gun fight in which White fired at the victim in the vicinity of South Raleigh and Berry streets. Stray bullets traveled into the stands of an ongoing Martinsburg High School Football game, striking one fan while two others were hit with shrapnel. White fled West Virginia after the event and avoided capture by law enforcement. The case was referred to the USMS Mountain State Fugitive Task Force for apprehension during Operation Monarch. Investigators found and arrested White Aug. 4 in the 2000 block of Rupley Road, in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

Kenneth Buckhalter, 33, the subject of a Berkeley County warrant issued Nov. 26, 2024, for first degree-robbery. The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office investigating an armed robbery Feb. 5, 2024, in the 7900 block of Winchester Avenue in Inwood identified Buckhalter as the suspect caught on video surveillance robbing a victim in a gray Chrysler 300 with a shotgun before fleeing with a woman in a red Ford Escape. Buckhalter remained at large until the warrant was referred to the USMS Mountain State Fugitive Task Force for apprehension during Operation Monarch.

The Mountain State Fugitive Task Force, along with the USMS Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, looked for Buckhalter in Virginia and West Virginia. Task force officers, along with the Jefferson County SWAT team, located Buckhalter at residence on Autumn Drive in Ranson July 24 and took him into custody. Buckhalter also had an outstanding warrant in Jefferson County for domestic assault.

Dorian Graham, 21, of Martinsburg, the subject of a warrant obtained July 14 in Berkeley County charging him with wanton endangerment with a firearm following a Martinsburg Police Department investigation into an Oct. 1, 2024, shooting. Three males on bikes were observed heading thru Franklin Manor Apartments when one male fired at the victim who was in the area of Leeland Park. Martinsburg detectives identified the shooter as Graham. The warrant was referred to the USMS fugitive task force for apprehension during Operation Monarch. On Aug. 6 task force officers located Graham on Anita Drive in Martinsburg and, with the assistance of the Berkeley County SWAT team, arrested him without incident.

Timico Johnson, 55, of Martinsburg, the subject of a Martinsburg Police Department drug investigation in June that resulted in a warrant being issued for distribution of crack cocaine and felony drug conspiracy. Task force officers located and arrested Johnson July 22 on Hedrick Avenue. During Johnson’s arrest officers also arrested two other subjects -- Amber Hite 34, of Martinsburg, who had an outstanding warrant for drug distribution, and Sierra Gorman 31, of Martinsburg, on two warrants, one in West Virginia for distribution of drugs and another out of Maryland charging her with robbery and other crimes.

The U.S. Marshals Service is the federal government’s primary agency for fugitive investigations. The Marshals have the broadest arrest authority among federal law enforcement agencies. U.S. Marshals assist state and local agencies in locating and apprehending their most violent fugitives.