Duke Orlando Geary, 39, of Kenova, West Virginia, admitted in federal court today to wielding a loaded .22-caliber revolver to guard a small-time marijuana empire — a decision that now lands him staring down a mandatory five-year prison sentence.
On January 30, 2020, a raid on Geary’s Kenova residence unearthed the operation: 88 growing marijuana plants, 25 pounds of processed weed, a Taurus .22-caliber revolver, and matching ammunition. According to court records, Geary didn’t flinch when questioned — he confessed on the spot, admitting he intended to sell the drugs and keep the gun nearby to protect both the stash and the cash.
Geary pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, a federal charge carrying severe mandatory penalties. The confession, delivered in U.S. District Court today, was straightforward and unembellished — no deals, no excuses.
He’s set for sentencing on May 1, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Robert C. Chamber, who presided over the hearing. Geary now faces a mandatory minimum of five years behind bars, up to life in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. No parole in the federal system — just time.
The case was investigated by the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor. U.S. Attorney Will Thompson, who announced the plea, called the firearm ‘a built-in escalation’ to an already dangerous drug operation.
Court documents tied to Case No. 3:22-cr-233 are available via PACER. A copy of the official release is posted on the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia’s website. The message is clear: guns and drugs still draw federal heat — especially in the Mountain State.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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