ELKINS, WV – Joshua Derek Raines, a 37-year-old resident of Elkins, has been hit with serious charges for alleged methamphetamine conspiracy and the illegal use of a firearm during drug trafficking.
Raines was indicted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office on one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute at Least Fifty Grams of Methamphetamine,” along with charges of “Possession with Intent to Distribute at Least Fifty Grams of Methamphetamine” and “Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Crime.” The events are said to have occurred in Randolph County in August 2019.
The prosecution claims Raines was caught with at least 50 grams of meth during the illegal operation. Adding to his woes, he’s also accused of wielding a .40 caliber pistol during the drug deal.
The potential consequences for Raines are severe, with prison terms ranging from ten years up to life in prison and fines reaching $10 million for the meth charges. For the firearm charge, he could face at least five years behind bars and a fine of up to $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is handling the case for the federal government, while the Mountain Region Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force conducted the investigation.
As always, an indictment is just an accusation, and Raines is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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