Beckley Man Pleads Guilty To Distributing Fentanyl
Monday, November 25, 2024, 2:15 P.M. ET. 1 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
BECKLEY, W.VA.- Today, November 25, 2024, Michael Reynard Penn, 43, of Beckley, West Virginia, appeared in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn to Distribution of Fentanyl.
According to U.S. Attorney Will Thompson and charging documents filed with the court, on August 17, 2023, Pennsold just around 27 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant for $1,600 at his Beckley residence during a controlled buy under the observation of law enforcement.
During his plea allocation today, Penn admitted to selling the fentanyl on that date and further admitted to selling fentanyl to the confidential informant on three other occasions between August 23 and September 13, 2023, from his Beckley, West Virginia home.
Following the controlled purchases, on September 18, 2023, law enforcement officers obtained and executed a court-authorized search warrant at Penn’s residence. During the search, officers and investigators found and seized cocaine, marijuana, a Ruger .380-caliber handgun, and $4,889 in U.S. currency. The cash included $470, which was pre-recorded money Penn received from the confidential informant during the controlled buys.
After entering his plea, Judge Aboulhson accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for March 28, 2025, at which time Penn faces up to 20 years in federal prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. The actual term of imprisonment will determined by a U.S. District Court Judge based on the seriousness of the offense and Penn’s prior criminal history.
