⏱ 3 min read
In a shocking turn of events, Justin Dale Graves, a 43-year-old resident of St. Albans, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. The guilty plea came after a search warrant was executed at Graves’ residence on October 30, 2024, where law enforcement officers seized a staggering 3.3 kilograms of methamphetamine, along with other illicit substances and firearms. Graves admitted to selling approximately 27.21 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $225 in St. Albans on October 29, 2024, just a day before the raid.
The search warrant yielded a treasure trove of evidence, including a loaded Hi-Point model C-9 9mm pistol, a loaded Glock model 19 9mm pistol, 37.69 grams of fentanyl, 17.17 grams of cocaine, 2.29 grams of heroin, two digital scales, various rounds of live ammunition, a drug ledger, and $1,190 in cash. Graves’ guilty plea is a significant blow to the methamphetamine trade in West Virginia, and his admission of guilt is a testament to the tireless efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat drug trafficking in the region.
Graves is scheduled to be sentenced on September 2, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10,250,000. The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at repelling the invasion of illegal immigration, achieving the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime.
The investigation was led by the St. Albans Police Department, with assistance from federal agencies. United States Attorney Moore Capito commended the investigative work of the St. Albans Police Department, and United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum is prosecuting the case.
The guilty plea is a significant victory for law enforcement agencies in West Virginia, and it sends a strong message to those involved in the methamphetamine trade that they will be held accountable for their actions. As the case moves forward, it will be interesting to see how Graves’ sentencing plays out and what impact it will have on the community.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Drug Trafficking
- Defendant: West Virginia
- Location: WV
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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