CHARLESTON, W.VA. - A Charleston man pled guilty to federal drug and gun crimes, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Jackie Harper, 27, pled guilty to distributing over 170 grams of methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
“An all too common occurrence - a felon with a gun. Dealing meth," said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “And another common occurrence - we convict those drug dealing felons with guns."
Harper admitted that he sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant working for MDENT on four separate occasions in August and September 2018. Upon execution of a search warrant on Sept. 19, 2018, law enforcement officers also found a firearm on Harper. Harper is prohibited from having a firearm due to his prior conviction for malicious assault in the Circuit Court of Kanawha County
Harper faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on Aug. 21, 2019.
United States District Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the plea hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Arthur is handling the prosecution.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
