Beckley Woman Admits to Fentanyl Conspiracy

BECKLEY, W.Va. – Another link in the opioid supply chain has been severed in West Virginia. Leann Marie Keyes, 42, of Beckley, confessed today to her role in a fentanyl conspiracy that flooded the streets with the deadly drug. The guilty plea comes as authorities continue to crack down on those profiting from the state’s ongoing addiction crisis.

According to court documents unsealed today, Keyes conspired with her husband, Justin Scott Keyes, 36, to distribute fentanyl between October 2024 and January 2025. The pair allegedly peddled a total of 12.34 grams of the potent opioid on four separate occasions – each sale made directly to a confidential informant. This wasn’t some back-alley transaction; Keyes admitted to pre-arranging the deals with the informant, while her husband handled the hand-to-hand exchange at their Beckley residence.

The operation, while relatively small in quantity, highlights the insidious nature of fentanyl distribution networks. Just a few grams can be lethal, and the Keyes’ brazen willingness to deal directly with an informant suggests a calculated disregard for the harm they were causing. The couple’s residence served as ground zero for their illicit operation, turning a home into a distribution hub for a substance that’s claiming lives across the state.

Justin Scott Keyes also pleaded guilty on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, to the same charge of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Both Leann and Justin Keyes are now facing the grim reality of sentencing on January 9, 2026. Leann Keyes could receive a maximum penalty of 20 years behind bars, along with a minimum of three years of supervised release and a hefty fine of up to $1 million. The same sentence awaits her husband.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston announced the guilty plea, praising the collaborative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit. This unit, comprised of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Beckley Police Department, has been relentlessly pursuing drug traffickers in the region. Their work, Johnston stated, is critical to dismantling these criminal enterprises.

The case was overseen by United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn, with Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin leading the prosecution. Details of the case, including the full press release, can be found on the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia website. Court documents are also available on PACER under Case No. 5:25-cr-73. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing of both defendants.