HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Rakai Travall Hawkins, a 30-year-old hailing from Detroit, Michigan, is staring down a lengthy prison sentence after admitting to flooding the streets of Huntington, West Virginia with a deadly cocktail of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Known on the streets as “G,” Hawkins pleaded guilty today to federal drug charges that could land him behind bars for decades.
Federal agents raided a 7th Street residence in Huntington on September 24, 2024, uncovering a stash that would make any dealer blush: 211 grams of fentanyl, a staggering 484 grams of methamphetamine, 12 grams of crack cocaine, and a loaded, stolen SCCY 9mm pistol. Hawkins confessed to using the residence as a storage and distribution hub, intent on turning a profit from the misery of others. The firearm, he admitted, wasn’t for protection from rivals – it was to guard his supply and the cash it generated.
But the September raid wasn’t the first time Hawkins had crossed paths with law enforcement. Back on July 22, 2024, a traffic stop in Huntington revealed he was already carrying 7 grams of fentanyl and 7.5 grams of crack, clearly indicating a pre-existing operation. The feds then pieced together evidence showing Hawkins conducted multiple drug sales between August and September. He peddled roughly 58 grams of methamphetamine and 7.15 grams of fentanyl across four separate transactions. Disturbingly, he even accepted the stolen 9mm pistol as payment for one fentanyl deal – a clear escalation of his criminal activity.
The sheer volume of drugs Hawkins trafficked is staggering. Over half a kilo of meth, over 200 grams of fentanyl, and the ready availability of a stolen firearm paints a picture of a ruthless operator who prioritized profit over the safety of the Huntington community. The U.S. Attorney’s Office isn’t mincing words, emphasizing the seriousness of the charges and the damage Hawkins inflicted.
Hawkins is scheduled for sentencing on November 3, 2025. He’s facing a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, but the potential maximum is a chilling 40 years, alongside at least four years of supervised release and a hefty $5 million fine. This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), a federal initiative aimed at choking off the flow of deadly synthetic opioids, and Operation Take Back America, a broader effort to dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston praised the collaborative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing, and Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney is prosecuting the case. Those seeking further details can find a press release on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for the Southern District of West Virginia, or by searching Case No. 3:25-cr-51 on PACER.
RELATED: Detroit Man Sentenced to Life for Armed Fentanyl Trafficking
RELATED: Huntington Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Sale
Related Federal Cases
- Detroit Dealer ‘Cell’ Gets 18 Months in WV Meth & Fentanyl Ring · Michigan
- Detroit Drug Dealer Sentenced for Fentanyl Distribution in Huntington · Michigan
- Meth & Fentanyl Pipeline Lands Detroit Man in Federal Prison · Alabama
- Detroit Dealer Gets 5 Years in WV Meth Ring · Alabama
- Detroit Drug Dealer Gets Over Four Years for Oxymorphone · Michigan
Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News