Emory Chiles Indicted on Heroin, Firearm Charges

Emory Chiles, a 43-year-old man from Steubenville, Ohio, is facing a federal firestorm after being indicted on drug distribution and firearms charges tied to a November 2017 incident in Monongalia County, West Virginia. The indictment, handed down by a federal grand jury in Wheeling, charges Chiles with one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, one count of Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Offense, and one count of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Chiles was caught in possession of a 9mm pistol while allegedly distributing heroin in the county. The charges paint a familiar picture of the deadly intersection between street-level drug operations and illegal firearms. Prosecutors allege the offenses occurred during a period when Chiles was already a convicted felon, compounding the severity of the firearm charges.

Chiles now faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000 on the heroin distribution charge alone. The firearm charge related to drug trafficking carries a mandatory minimum and up to five years behind bars, plus a $250,000 fine. The unlawful possession count adds another potential 10 years and another $250,000 in penalties. Federal sentencing guidelines mean the final outcome will hinge heavily on the seriousness of the conduct and Chiles’ prior criminal record.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley, who has built a reputation for hard-hitting drug and gun prosecutions across the Northern District of West Virginia. The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office—agencies that have increasingly targeted cross-state drug traffickers using West Virginia as a corridor.

Chiles’ prior felony conviction in the Northern District of West Virginia adds a dangerous offender dimension to the case, potentially triggering enhanced penalties under federal law. Authorities have not disclosed details of the prior conviction but have confirmed it disqualifies Chiles from legally possessing firearms under federal statute—a fact central to the third charge.

An indictment is merely an accusation. Emory Chiles is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. His next appearance in federal court has not yet been scheduled. The case remains under active prosecution by the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia, Bill Powell.