Kanawha County Man Sentenced For Narcotics Trafficking
Thursday, January 9, 2025, 8:30 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
CHARLESTON, W.VA.- A 35-year-old St. Albans, West Virginia, will be spending over seven years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine not only for money but also for tools and groceries that were shoplifted by individuals suffering from addiction.
On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, Joseph Daniel Skeens, 35, of St. Albans, West Virginia, appeared in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Irene C. Berger to 87 months in federal prison, to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release for his previously entered guilty plea to Distribution of Methamphetamine.
Skeens Sold Meth And Fentanyl In Exchange For Stolen Tools
According to U.S. Attorney Will Thompson and documents filed with the District Court, on November 17, 2023, Skeens sold around 2.5 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for a new Rigid impact wrench that was still in its original packaging.
During last year’s plea hearing, Skeens admitted to selling the methamphetamine for the impact wrench and further admitted to at least three additional sales from October 2, 2023, through November 22, 2023, during which he distributed fentanyl and methamphetamine for cash or items of value such as tools and groceries that were shoplifted at his direction. All of the transactions were conducted near Skeens’ St. Albans home.
The transactions by Skeens also included the sale of 3.46 grams of fentanyl in exchange for $50 on October 2, 2023, the sale of 1.34 grams of methamphetamine in exchange for a Rigid rotary power hammer on November 18, 2023, and around 1 gram of methamphetamine in exchange for around $100 worth of groceries on November 22, 2023. All of the transactions took place with a confidential informant under the observation of law enforcement.
Additionally, during October 2023, Police Officers also conducted two traffic stops on Skeens’ vehicle and seized over 250 grams of methamphetamine. Skeens has an extensive criminal history with convictions on possession of a stolen vehicle and attempted manufacturing of controlled substances.
