NC Man Pleads Guilty to Meth, Fentanyl Distribution

BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – In a grim turn of events, Keith Deshon Adams, 39, from Statesville, North Carolina, has pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, quantities that could carry a devastating sentence.

Court documents recount how on September 7, 2022, Adams was stopped during a traffic stop in Oak Hill. He attempted to flee and opened a cross-body bag containing the deadly substances, leading to an incident where both officers suffered apparent overdoses after ingesting fentanyl.

The situation escalated quickly as Adams struggled with law enforcement. Officers deployed a taser to subdue him, only for the substance to spill over into their presence. The aftermath was dire, with both officers hospitalizing and requiring naloxone treatment.

According to court admissions, Adams possessed methamphetamine, fentanyl, and tablets laced with both substances. His sentencing is scheduled for September 17, 2024, where he faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in federal prison, supervised release, and a $5 million fine.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia released the charges against Adams, highlighting the collaborative efforts of multiple agencies. The Oak Hill Police Department, Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, DEA, and ATF have been commended for their investigative work in bringing Adams to justice.

Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing with Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum prosecuting the case. More information on this case can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-152.