A Parkersburg man has been brought to justice for his role in a federal drug trafficking operation, with a guilty plea to distribution of methamphetamine and the sale of a ‘ghost gun.’
Aaron Lee Mitter, 39, of Parkersburg, pleaded guilty to distributing approximately 24.52 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant on July 11, 2024, in exchange for $280. The defendant further admitted to selling an unregistered privately made firearm, commonly known as a ‘ghost gun,’ and a magazine capable of holding 45 rounds of ammunition for $400 that same day.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the transaction took place on July 11, 2024. Mitter’s guilty plea marked a significant blow to his operation, with law enforcement officers executing a search warrant at a Parkersburg apartment where he was staying at the time, seizing approximately 45.67 grams of methamphetamine during the search.
Mitter admitted that he intended to use some of the seized methamphetamine and distribute the rest. He now faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. Mitter is scheduled to be sentenced on September 22, 2025.
The investigation into Mitter’s operation was a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, and the Parkersburg Police Department. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston commended the investigative work of the agencies involved, stating that their efforts ‘demonstrate the commitment to keeping our communities safe from the scourge of methamphetamine and the dangers of ‘ghost guns.’
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing, with Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum prosecuting the case. The case is currently pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, with a copy of the press release available on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-182.
Related Federal Cases
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- Charleston Dealer Means Admits to Gun & Drug Trafficking · West Virginia
- Malcolm Hodges Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun, Meth Charges · West Virginia
- Gina McCauley Pleads Guilty to Meth Conspiracy, Gun Lie · West Virginia
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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