Jermaine Antoine Johnson, a 35-year-old resident of Beckley, West Virginia, has been sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison for his involvement in a drug trafficking organization. Following his prison term, he will serve three years of supervised release. Johnson confessed to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as cocaine base, commonly known as "crack," within Beckley and the Southern District of West Virginia.
Court documents reveal that Johnson's participation in the drug trafficking organization occurred in April and May 2024. He admitted to supplying controlled substances for distribution by others. As part of his guilty plea, Johnson acknowledged traveling with a co-conspirator to Baltimore, Maryland on May 20, 2024. There they purchased approximately $6,000 worth of fentanyl before returning to West Virginia the following day. They discussed increasing the volume of fentanyl by adding cutting agents such as sugar and brown sugar.
Johnson's criminal history includes previous convictions for malicious assault, battery on a correctional officer, first-degree robbery, possession with intent to deliver narcotics, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Johnson is one of twelve individuals indicted on charges related to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine base within the Southern District of West Virginia from June 2023 to May 2024. All twelve defendants pleaded guilty; two entered guilty pleas to separate charges instead of those alleged in the indictment.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston announced the sentencing while praising the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit. This unit includes officers from various local law enforcement agencies such as the West Virginia State Police and Raleigh County Sheriff's Department.
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk delivered Johnson's sentence. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons along with former Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program established in 1982 aimed at dismantling major drug trafficking organizations posing threats to public safety or national security.
Further information can be found on PACER under Case No. 5:24-cr-90 or through the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia website.
