Elkins, West Virginia — A 22-year-old man admitted to illegally wielding a loaded 9mm pistol while entangled in drug-related activity, capping a federal investigation that painted a grim picture of armed narcotics behavior in Randolph County.
Tre Plaugher, of Elkins, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to one count of “Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Crime,” acknowledging he possessed the firearm in January 2016. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Federal prosecutors stressed that the gun wasn’t just present—it was tied directly to ongoing drug operations. Plaugher’s admission confirms law enforcement’s long-held suspicion: firearms and narcotics remain tightly interwoven in rural criminal networks.
Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen confirmed the conviction, underscoring the Justice Department’s aggressive stance on gun crimes with drug ties. “When drugs and guns mix, communities pay the price,” Jividen said. “This conviction is a win for public safety.”
The case was investigated by the Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a multi-agency unit targeting high-risk offenders across central Appalachia. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. Warner handled prosecution, presenting evidence that sealed Plaugher’s guilty plea.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided over the hearing. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the final sentence will reflect the severity of the offense and Plaugher’s criminal history. Sentencing is scheduled for a later date, with federal prison looming on the horizon.
Related Federal Cases
- Rollie C. Poynter Jr. Charged with Illegal Firearm Possession · Kentucky
- Russell Cary Owens Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm Possession · North Carolina
- Thomas Dale Sims Jr. Sentenced for Firearm Possession · West Virginia
- Archie Ray Arbogast Charged with Illegal Firearm Possession · West Virginia
- Elkins Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm Possession · West Virginia
Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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