Michael Eugene Ginther, a 42-year-old resident of Charleston, pleaded guilty to a federal drug charge involving possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The plea was entered in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Court records show that on April 24, 2024, Ginther had approximately 98.58 grams of methamphetamine in his possession in the Charleston area. He admitted during proceedings that he intended to distribute the substance.
At the time of this incident, Ginther was already serving a term of supervised release. This followed his previous guilty plea on August 2, 2018, for conspiracy to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine in the same federal court district.
Ginther’s sentencing is set for November 10, 2025. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and could receive up to life imprisonment. Additional penalties include at least five years of supervised release and a fine that could reach $10 million.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston announced the plea and acknowledged the efforts of both the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United States Marshals Service in investigating the case.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing, while Assistant United States Attorney Gabriel Price is handling prosecution duties.
Information about this case can be found through PACER by searching Case No. 2:25-cr-33 on their website.
“Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United States Marshals Service.”
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