Rafael Cee-Erwin Solomon, also known as "Rip," from Detroit, Michigan, has pleaded guilty to three counts of distributing fentanyl. The 43-year-old admitted to selling fentanyl in Dunbar on March 10, 2025, and in St. Albans on March 24 and March 27, 2025.
Solomon's criminal record includes a previous conviction for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base in the Southern District of West Virginia in December 2012. He also has convictions for assault and battery-domestic violence, malicious destruction of property, arson, and felonious assault.
The investigation leading to Solomon's guilty plea also resulted in the indictment of 13 others for allegedly distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine in Charleston between June 2024 and May 2025. These charges are allegations until proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Solomon is set for sentencing on October 9, 2025. He could face up to 30 years in prison, six years of supervised release, and a $2 million fine.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston praised the FBI's investigative efforts. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing with Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuting.
The case is part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), established to tackle major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. It also aligns with Operation Take Back America aimed at combating illegal immigration and dismantling criminal organizations threatening public safety.
Further information can be found through the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia or by searching Case No. 2:25-cr-77 on PACER.
