Will Adrian Samuels, Destruction of Government Property, West Virginia 2023

BREAKING: Texas Man Caught Hurling Objects at Federal Building in West Virginia

BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – A disturbing act of vandalism has left authorities shaken in Bluefield, West Virginia. Will Adrian Samuels, a 48-year-old man from Jefferson, Texas, pleaded guilty to destruction of government property in a federal court hearing.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 19, 2023, Samuels repeatedly threw objects at two glass exterior doors located at the front of the Elizabeth Kee Federal Building in Bluefield, causing more than $1,000 in damage. The investigation into the incident was led by the United States Marshals Service, with assistance from the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office and the Wytheville, Virginia, Police Department.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston announced the guilty plea and commended the investigative work of the USMS, as well as the assistance provided by the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office and the Wytheville, Virginia, Police Department. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing, while Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph is prosecuting the case.

Samuels is scheduled to be sentenced on December 8, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. The incident has raised concerns about the safety and security of federal buildings in the region.

As the investigation into the incident continues, authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. The case has been assigned Case No. 1:24-cr-195 and is available on PACER for those interested in learning more.

The full details of the case can be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

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