Adam Pauley, 34, of Sophia, Raleigh County, is headed to federal prison for 84 months after admitting to dealing methamphetamine and packing a loaded .380 caliber pistol for protection while doing it. The sentence lands squarely on charges of possession with intent to distribute meth and using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime — a deadly combo prosecutors say is poisoning communities across West Virginia.
On June 13, 2018, Pauley was driving near Sam Black Church in Greenbrier County when a West Virginia State Trooper pulled him over. Inside the vehicle, officers found a stash of methamphetamine ready for distribution and the concealed handgun tucked within reach. The stop triggered a federal case that culminated in Pauley pleading guilty on January 25, 2019, confirming he carried the gun specifically to guard his drug supply and himself.
U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart didn’t mince words: “Meth and guns. An all too common occurrence.” He pointed to the surge in meth-involved overdose deaths across the state, calling the pairing of narcotics and firearms a public safety crisis. “We’re working closely with law enforcement to put meth dealers behind bars,” Stuart said, emphasizing the federal crackdown on traffickers armed and ready to defend their trade.
The investigation was led by the Greenbrier Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force and the West Virginia State Police — agencies increasingly stretched thin battling the rural opioid and meth epidemic. Their work secured the evidence that sealed Pauley’s fate, linking him directly to both the drugs and the weapon during a routine traffic stop that turned into a major drug interdiction.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John File prosecuted the case, pushing for accountability in a region ravaged by addiction and violence. At the plea hearing, U.S. District Judge Irene C. Berge presided, overseeing the legal proceedings that confirmed Pauley’s admission of guilt and the severity of the sentence.
Pauley now faces seven years behind bars with no room for early release — a hard sentence meant to send a message. But on the back roads of southern West Virginia, where meth labs hide in hollows and guns are common currency, the battle is far from over.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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