Fashawn Cannon, 27, of Hernshaw, Kanawha County, stood before a federal judge today and admitted to selling oxycodone while armed with a loaded 9mm pistol—a deal that ended with a trail of heroin, fentanyl, and stolen painkillers leading straight to his doorstep. Cannon pled guilty to distribution of oxycodone and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, charges that could land him behind bars for life.
On November 17, 2017, Cannon sold oxycodone to a confidential informant at a residence on Carnation Lane in Hernshaw, all while openly carrying a Hi-Point, Model C9, 9mm pistol. That same day, law enforcement raided the property, seizing the firearm and large dealer quantities of heroin, fentanyl, and additional oxycodone—evidence that prosecutors say underscores the brazen nature of his operation.
U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart made no apologies for the aggressive push against drug traffickers like Cannon. “Violent drug dealers are going to have to learn that there’s a prison cell waiting for them if they push pain pills in our communities,” Stuart said. “My office’s aggressive prosecution of dangerous drug criminals will continue until we take back our streets from this epidemic.”
Cannon now faces a minimum of five years and up to life in federal prison on the firearm charge alone. On the drug count, he faces up to 20 years. The sentences will run consecutively, meaning no leniency for overlapping crimes. Sentencing is scheduled for May 16, 2018, before U.S. District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Route 119 Drug and Violent Crime Task Force and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matt Davis. It falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a federal initiative aimed at dismantling gun violence through coordinated local and national law enforcement efforts.
This prosecution also reflects the Southern District of West Virginia’s broader campaign against prescription pill trafficking and heroin distribution. With federal, state, and local agencies working in lockstep, U.S. Attorney Stuart’s office vows to shut down open-air drug markets and stop the flood of opioids ravaging communities across the region—one takedown at a time.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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