By james art 
Wheeling, W.Va. – Former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia, Bill Ihlenfeld, resigned recently as the state’s top narcotics prosecution office.
Ihlenfeld, who stepped down a minute before President Donald Trump took office, said that in addition to leading the nation in drug prosecutions, his office has handled many high-profile prosecutions. Ihlenfeld successfully prosecuted white-collar crimes, crimes against national security and financial crimes against citizens during his five-year tenure as a prosecutor.
“We charged 82 people last January with taking down a Baltimore-based fentanyl organization; The next month, we indicted 28 more in dismantling a Philadelphia-based organization that was pushing large quantities of drugs into Morgantown; We took down the biggest drug dealer in the Ohio Valley the year before,” Ihlenfeld said during an appearance on Metronews’ “Talkline.” “Just one case after another and another.”
He said federal lawmakers are consistently underfunded federal law enforcement agencies. The Northern District office was supposed to be staffed with 60 prosecutors and they did it with 55.
“I can tell you when someone retires from the Sinaloa drug cartel, there’s no problem filling that position,” Ihlenfeld said. “They have a lot of money and continue to be fully staffed, so the US Congress voted to cut US Attorneys’ budgets; This is a pro-Cartel vote. “
Most drugs coming across the border illegally go through our ports of entry, according to Ihlenfeld. Cartels have become very skilled at recruiting US citizens to smuggle drugs across the border and in some cases back into Mexico. He said there is an immediate need for more technology at the southern border to help detect illegal substances.
“What the cartels have become very good at is recruiting US citizens because it’s easier to get a US citizen back,” Ihlenfeld said. “Hiring them to go down to Mexico and bring the drugs back.”
Prevention is the most important weapon when it comes to young people. He said the anti-drug message should start at the youngest level with a consistent, evidence-based message to discourage drug use. He said one of the most effective programs in the state is Martinsburg’s initiative, which identifies children who are more likely to use drugs because of adverse childhood experiences and directs prevention resources to them.
“We know that high-scoring kids are much more likely to use controlled substances,” Ihlenfeld said. “It’s a matter of identifying the kids most in need, most likely to use illegal drugs and getting them the resources.”
Ihlenfeld said there is no data to suggest that fully legal marijuana will lead to fewer people using dangerous drugs.
“I just don’t know if there’s a direct correlation,” Ihlenfeld said. “I know there’s the argument about the revenue that will be generated and we have economic problems in West Virginia; We all know that. “
Ihlefeld was appointed by now-former President Joe Biden. Trump will appoint a Republican.