St. Albans Man Pleads Guilty To Distribution Of Methamphetamine
Friday, September 13, 2024, 6:30 ET. 1 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
CHARLESTON, W.VA.- U.S. Attorney Will Thompson reported on Thursday, September 12, 2024, that Joseph Daniel Skeens, 35, of St. Albans, West Virginia, appeared in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and pleaded guilty to Distribution of Methamphetamine.
According to documents filed with the court, on November 17, 2023, Skeens sold just around 2.5 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in return for a new Rigid impact wrench that was still in its original packaging.
Skeens Admits Guilt
During his allocation, Skeens admitted to the transaction and admitted to at least three additional transactions from October 2, 2023, through November 22, 2023. During that time, he distributed fentanyl and methamphetamine in return for money or items of value, such as tools and groceries that were stolen from retail stores at his direction. The sales of narcotics occurred near Skeen’s St. Albans, West Virginia residence.
These transactions by Skeens included the sale of 3.46 grams of fentanyl in return for $50 on October 2, 2023, on November 18, 2023, the sale of 1.34 grams of methamphetamine in return for a Rigid rotary hammer, and around 1 gram of methamphetamine in return for approximately $100 worth of groceries on November 22, 2023. Each of the sales was made to the confidential informant.
U.S. District Court Judge Irene C. Berger accepted Skeens’ guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for January 9, 2025. At which time, Skeens faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release and a $1 million fine.
