WHEELING — Bill Ihlenfeld, the U.S. Attorney for Northern West Virginia, officially stepped down moments before Donald Trump was sworn in as president.
In a statement issued on his final day in office, Ihlenfeld expressed both pride and sadness at leaving the post. “Serving as United States Attorney has been an honor and a privilege,” he said. “I’m deeply saddened to leave, but as I walk out the door today, I do so with tremendous pride because of all this team has accomplished over the past four years. Drug overdoses have decreased, national security has increased, child predators have been locked up, and white-collar criminals have been held to account.”
Ihlenfeld’s resignation came as Trump assumed office, a move in line with the tradition of U.S. Attorneys stepping down when a new president takes over. Ihlenfeld, a Democrat, had originally been appointed during the Obama administration and had served from 2010 to 2016. He later ran for state Senate before being reappointed to the position by President Joe Biden.
A statement from Ihlenfeld’s office outlined numerous accomplishments during his tenure. Under his leadership, the office ranked among the most active in the nation for drug prosecutions, finishing 2024 as the top U.S. Attorney’s office for drug cases. The office was also involved in high-profile cases with national and international impact.
“Small but mighty,” Ihlenfeld remarked. “This office is always punching above its weight class, regularly bringing cases of national and international significance.”
He reassured the public that his team of federal prosecutors would continue to work to keep West Virginia safe despite the upcoming leadership change.
Looking ahead, Ihlenfeld plans to transition to the private sector. An acting U.S. Attorney will likely be named until a permanent replacement is nominated by President Trump.
Among the major cases prosecuted during Ihlenfeld’s tenure were the dismantling of a Baltimore-based fentanyl trafficking network and a major drug bust in Philadelphia. His office also played a role in taking down a Martinsburg group linked to the Sinaloa Drug Cartel, and the indictment of the Rico McGhee organization, which disrupted the flow of illicit drugs into the Ohio Valley.
Notable convictions under Ihlenfeld’s leadership included:
- Jonathan and Diana Toebbe, sentenced to 19 and 21 years, respectively, for espionage after attempting to sell U.S. defense technology to foreign adversaries.
- Ayodele Arosokun, sentenced to 34 years for an international tax fraud scheme.
- Sam Bunner, sentenced to 10 years for defrauding an elderly man of $2 million.
- Shelly Leipham, sentenced to 7 years for a lottery fraud scheme targeting older West Virginians.
- David McCauley, former Buckhannon Mayor and Councilman faces 10 years for possession of child pornography.
As Trump begins the process of selecting a new U.S. Attorney, Ihlenfeld leaves behind a legacy of high-impact work that shaped both local and national law enforcement efforts.
