Tracey Brown, a 45-year-old resident of Chelyan, West Virginia, has entered a guilty plea to charges of distributing methamphetamine. The charge involves 500 grams or more of a mixture containing the substance.

Court documents reveal that on December 12, 2023, Brown obtained about 17 pounds of methamphetamine from Dayton, Ohio. He then transported it to his residence in Elkview, West Virginia. Brown confessed to distributing approximately one pound and planned to distribute the remainder with another individual within the Southern District of West Virginia.

Law enforcement conducted a search at the Elkview residence on December 13, 2023. They seized the remaining methamphetamine during this operation.

Brown is due for sentencing on March 12, 2025. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and could receive up to life imprisonment. Additionally, he faces at least five years of supervised release and a potential fine of $10 million.

"This case is the result of determined investigative work by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Route 119 Drug Task Force," stated United States Attorney Will Thompson. "Their outstanding efforts prevented a staggering amount of methamphetamine from reaching our streets and poisoning our community."

The U.S. Route 119 Drug Task Force includes members from various sheriff's offices in Mingo County, Logan County, Boone County, along with officers from the West Virginia State Police.

Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber oversaw the hearing while Assistant United States Attorney Samuel D. Marsh is handling prosecution duties.

Further details about this case can be accessed via PACER by referencing Case No. 2:24-cr-16.