Beckley Coke & Fentanyl Dealer Admits Guilt

BECKLEY, W.Va. – Roger Lee Cousins, 50, of Beckley, is facing a potential two-decade stretch behind bars after admitting today to peddling poison in the Mountain State. Cousins pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of cocaine, but the scope of his operation, revealed in court, paints a picture of a man profiting from the opioid crisis and the city’s drug demand.

Federal prosecutors laid out the evidence: on November 8, 2024, Cousins cut a deal with a confidential informant, unloading approximately 14.66 grams of cocaine and 27.2 grams of fentanyl. The transaction netted him a cool $3,140 – blood money earned from fueling addiction. But that wasn’t a one-off. Cousins confessed to multiple sales to the same informant, peddling both cocaine and fentanyl on October 21, 2024, more cocaine on October 29, 2024, and additional fentanyl on December 6, 2024.

This wasn’t some small-time hustle. The repeated transactions with a CI suggest Cousins was actively seeking to expand his network, and the combination of cocaine and the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl points to a blatant disregard for human life. The sheer volume of fentanyl involved—over 27 grams in a single transaction—is enough to kill dozens, if not hundreds, of people.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston wasn’t mincing words. “This guilty plea is a significant step in holding accountable those who profit from the devastation caused by illegal drugs,” she stated. The investigation, a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit—comprising officers from the West Virginia State Police, Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and Beckley Police Department—demonstrates a coordinated push to dismantle drug trafficking operations in the region.

Cousins is now scheduled to be sentenced on January 2, 2026. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, a minimum of three years of supervised release after serving his time, and a fine that could climb as high as $1 million. Whether that’s enough to deter others remains to be seen, but it’s a start. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian D. Parsons, Timothy D. Boggess, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew D. Isabell secured the guilty plea, with United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presiding over the hearing.

Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing. Those seeking more information can find a copy of the press release on the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia website, or access related court documents on PACER under Case No. 5:25-cr-42. The fight against drug trafficking in West Virginia is far from over, and Grimy Times remains committed to exposing the individuals and networks that prey on vulnerable communities.