Rodney Allen Rowan, Possession with Intent to Distribute at Least 50 Grams of Methamphetamine, West Virginia 2019

ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA — A 25-year-old Upshur County man is facing federal charges after being caught with over 50 grams of methamphetamine and an illegal firearm last November. Rodney Allen Rowan of Buckhannon was indicted on one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute at Least 50 Grams of Methamphetamine” and one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm,” according to U.S. Attorney Bill Powell.

Rowan allegedly possessed the cache of methamphetamine in November 2019 within Upshur County, marking a serious escalation in federal drug enforcement efforts across rural West Virginia. The quantity involved triggers a mandatory minimum sentence, underscoring the severity of the accusation. Federal prosecutors assert that Rowan intended to distribute the drug, a charge that carries weight in communities ravaged by the opioid and meth crisis.

Compounding the drug charge, Rowan is accused of possessing a .380 caliber pistol during the same incident—despite being legally prohibited from owning firearms due to a prior criminal offense. The weapon’s seizure adds a dangerous dimension to the case, placing Rowan under federal scrutiny for violating both drug and gun control laws designed to keep weapons out of the hands of convicted felons.

If convicted, Rowan faces at least 10 years and up to life in federal prison for the methamphetamine charge, along with a fine of up to $10 million. The firearm count carries a maximum of 10 years behind bars and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the final sentence will reflect the gravity of the offenses and any previous criminal record.

The investigation was a joint operation involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, West Virginia State Police, and the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case, building a federal case that could land Rowan in prison for over a decade.

An indictment is not a conviction. Rodney Allen Rowan is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The case now moves forward in the Northern District of West Virginia, where federal prosecutors will attempt to prove both possession and intent beyond a reasonable doubt.

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