CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A St. Albans woman pled guilty today to federal drug crimes, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Amy Wilkinson, 44, of St. Albans, West Virginia, entered her guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin. Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department STOP Team and the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force.
“Fentanyl and heroin have killed far too many West Virginians," said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “As part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), we are prosecuting every readily provable case involving the distribution of fentanyl, regardless of quantity. Operation SOS will save lives."
During Wilkinson’s plea hearing, it was established that Wilkinson possessed controlled substances with the intent to distribute on two different dates. On Feb. 22, 2017, officers with the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department and DEA Task Force Officers executed a search warrant on Empire Drive near St. Albans. During the execution of the search warrant, officers found Wilkinson inside the residence in possession of fentanyl that was individually packaged for distribution. Wilkinson admitted on that date that she intended to distribute the fentanyl in and around Kanawha County.
On March 2, 2017, Wilkinson was again caught in possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute. An investigation by the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department discovered that Wilkinson had been selling drugs from a motel room in St. Albans. A search of the motel room revealed that Wilkinson was in possession of 23 grams of heroin that she admitted she intended to distribute in the Southern District of West Virginia.
Wilkinson now faces a sentence of up to twenty years on the drug charges and a fine of up to $1,000,000 when she is sentenced on May 22, 2019.
Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is responsible for the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
