Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
Kevin Wray Terrell, a 39-year-old resident of Beckley, West Virginia, has pleaded guilty to charges related to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. His involvement in a drug trafficking organization that operated within the Southern District of West Virginia was acknowledged during court proceedings.
Court documents reveal that Terrell collaborated with a co-conspirator in April and May 2024 to procure and distribute controlled substances. On May 15, 2024, discussions took place about acquiring drugs worth $6,000 from a supplier. Terrell subsequently drove his associate to Baltimore, Maryland on May 20, where they purchased fentanyl for distribution in West Virginia.
Following their return, the duo contemplated increasing the volume of fentanyl by using cutting agents such as sugar. Law enforcement later executed a search warrant at Terrell's residence on May 30, seizing 136 grams of fentanyl.
Terrell is set for sentencing on May 22, 2025. He faces up to 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years supervised release, and fines amounting to $1 million.
This case is part of broader charges against twelve individuals accused of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine base from June 2023 through May 2024 within the Southern District of West Virginia. Among these defendants are eleven who have pleaded guilty; one remains pending trial. It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation until proven otherwise in court.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Will Thompson who praised the efforts of various law enforcement agencies including the FBI, ATF, and local units like the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit.
The hearing was overseen by United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn with Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell handling prosecution duties.
This investigation falls under the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), established in 1982 to combat major drug trafficking and money laundering operations. The program aims at dismantling significant threats posed by such organizations across multiple levels using combined resources from federal agencies alongside state and local law enforcement entities.
Further details can be accessed via PACER under Case No. 5:24-cr-90 or through the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for the Southern District of West Virginia.