Larry Wayne Meadows, Methamphetamine Possession with Intent to Distribute, West Virginia 2023

BECKLEY, WV – A Raleigh County man with a lengthy criminal history is headed to federal prison after admitting to running a steady drug operation out of his Shady Spring home. Larry Wayne Meadows, 71, was sentenced today to 12 years and seven months, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

The bust went down on September 21, 2021, when law enforcement executed a search warrant at Meadows’ residence. Agents didn’t find a small stash; they uncovered approximately 28 grams of methamphetamine, along with several grams of a deadly heroin and fentanyl mixture, and a substantial collection of prescription pills. Meadows confessed to intending to sell these drugs, fueling the addiction crisis plaguing West Virginia.

But the drugs weren’t the only illegal items found. Authorities also seized four firearms from the property, raising concerns about the potential for violence linked to Meadows’ operation. The ATF, along with the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit (BRCDVCU), spearheaded the investigation, highlighting the collaborative effort to dismantle local drug networks.

Court records reveal Meadows wasn’t a novice when it came to drug dealing. He admitted to distributing roughly one ounce of methamphetamine and one ounce of heroin each week for about a year. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision; it was a calculated, ongoing effort to profit from the misery of others. And it wasn’t his first time facing federal charges.

Meadows already had two prior federal felony convictions for controlled substance offenses, demonstrating a pattern of disregard for the law. U.S. Attorney Will Thompson emphasized the seriousness of the case, praising the work of the ATF and the BRCDVCU in bringing Meadows to justice. “This sentence sends a clear message,” Thompson stated, “that those who profit from the distribution of dangerous drugs will be held accountable.”

United States District Judge Frank W. Volk handed down the sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy D. Boggess and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Hamner prosecuted the case. Court documents related to Case No. 5:22-cr-99 are available on PACER. Meadows’ long history and the sheer volume of drugs involved likely contributed to the significant prison term, a grim reminder of the consequences of fueling the opioid epidemic in Southern West Virginia.

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