CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Richard James Pfost, 39, of Beaver, Raleigh County, is headed to federal prison for a decade after a Kanawha County traffic stop exposed a substantial drug operation. Pfost received a 10-year sentence today, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession of over 100 grams of heroin and possessing firearms while engaged in drug trafficking, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
The bust unfolded when Kanawha County Sheriff’s deputies pulled over the vehicle Pfost was riding in near Belle. A whiff of marijuana led to a full search, revealing a sickening haul: 112 grams of heroin, 88 grams of methamphetamine, 11 grams of cocaine, a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm, and a loaded Ruger EC9 9mm pistol. Pfost, seated in the front passenger seat, also had $420 in cash – readily admitted as the profits from his illicit trade.
Court documents paint a clear picture of Pfost’s intent. He confessed to planning to distribute the heroin, meth, and cocaine for profit, and chillingly, stated the firearms were for protecting himself, the drugs, and the money. This wasn’t a casual possession; it was a calculated effort to arm a drug-dealing operation. The case highlights the dangerous intersection of drug trafficking and gun violence plaguing communities across West Virginia.
“Drug trafficking is a significant driver of violence in our communities, particularly in Raleigh and Kanawha Counties,” stated United States Attorney Will Thompson. “This substantial sentence demonstrates the effectiveness of our partnerships with ATF and other federal, state and local law enforcement in removing drug dealers with guns from our streets.” The message is blunt: bring the drugs and the guns, and you’ll face the full weight of the law.
ATF Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Field Division echoed Thompson’s sentiment. “Drug dealers with guns are a threat to the safety of our communities,” Morrow said. “ATF, along with our local law enforcement partners, will aggressively investigate, arrest and pursue prosecution of these offenders.” He emphasized the ongoing commitment to making communities safer through relentless pursuit of these criminals.
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department, the Beckley Police Department, the Oak Hill Police Department, and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger handed down the sentence, with Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Cremeans leading the prosecution. Details of the case can be found on PACER under Case No. 2:21-cr-00094.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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