Charleston Man Rance McNeil Pleads Guilty to Meth Trafficking

Charleston, W.Va. — Rance McNeil, 46, sold multiple batches of methamphetamine to a government informant in a series of controlled buys at his home in early 2021, culminating in a federal drug bust and his guilty plea to federal drug charges. The operation, led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, exposed a steady flow of high-purity meth from McNeil’s residence in the heart of Charleston.

On March 11, 2021, McNeil handed over approximately two ounces of methamphetamine to an informant in exchange for $1,200 — cash that would later be recovered during a search. That deal was one of at least four confirmed transactions, with additional controlled buys occurring on March 1, April 8, and May 13, all at McNeil’s Charleston home. Each transaction was monitored and documented by law enforcement as part of a growing case.

The DEA moved in on May 18, 2021, executing a search warrant that ripped through the quiet of the neighborhood. Agents flooded McNeil’s residence, seizing large quantities of suspected methamphetamine and cocaine, along with stacks of U.S. currency tied to the drug trade. The haul confirmed what investigators had long suspected: McNeil wasn’t just a user — he was a supplier.

McNeil pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine, a charge that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 40 years behind bars. Sentencing is scheduled for February 17, 2022, before Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas E. Johnston, who presided over the hearing.

U.S. Attorney William S. Thompson announced the plea and praised the DEA’s relentless investigation, which relied on informants, surveillance, and forensic tracking of drug proceeds. Assistant U.S. Attorney Negar M. Kordestani is prosecuting the case, building a record that leaves little room for appeal.

Court documents and the official press release are available through the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia and on PACER under Case No. 2:21-cr-00203. As McNeil awaits sentencing, his name joins the growing ledger of those crushed by the opioid and meth crisis tearing through Appalachia.