Edward Sample, Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking, West Virginia 2021

A Maryland man is facing up to life in prison after pleading guilty to a federal gun crime in West Virginia. Edward Sample, 37, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking in Huntington, West Virginia.

According to court documents, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a residence on Washington Avenue in Huntington on 04/07/2021. Sample, along with other individuals, was located inside the house. Agents seized a loaded Taurus 9mm firearm, a dealer amount of heroin and fentanyl, and over $1,600 in cash during the search.

Sample confessed to possessing the firearm to protect his money and drugs. He also admitted to using the same Taurus 9mm firearm two days earlier to shoot at a house in the Cross Lanes area in order to collect a $50 drug debt. The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department investigated that incident.

Sample faces a minimum sentence of 25 years and up to life in prison when he is sentenced on 01/31/2022. United States Attorney William S. Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crimes and Drug Task Force, the Huntington Police Department and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the plea hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Greg McVey is handling the prosecution.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-00058.

Edward Sample, a 37-year-old man from Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking in West Virginia. The charges against Sample include possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Huntington, West Virginia plays host to a developing drug trafficking issue, with 04/07/2021 being the date of Sample’s crime.

Edward Sample will face a minimum sentence of 25 years and up to life in prison when he is sentenced on 01/31/2022.

Over $1,600 in cash was seized during the search of Sample’s residence on Washington Avenue in Huntington.

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