Wednesday, January 15, 2025

West Virginia Man Admits Guilt To Drug Crime

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Huntington Man Pleads Guilty To Distributing Fentanyl

Wednesday, January 15, 2025, 6:30 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

HUNTINGTON, W.VA.- On Monday, January 13, 2025, Beecher Lee Shuler, 43, of Huntington, West Virginia, appeared in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Robert C. Chambers to one count of Distribution of Fentanyl.

     According to U.S. Attorney Will Thompson and charging information filed with the District Court, during an ongoing narcotics investigation, on June 21, 2023, Shuler sold around 3.48 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant for $275. During his plea allocution on Monday, Shuler admitted to the court that he sold the fentanyl to the confidential informant from his Huntington, West Virginia home and arranged the sale beforehand with the informant.

     After the fentanyl sale on July 1, 2023, federal and state law enforcement investigators obtained and executed a court-authorized search warrant at Shuler’s Huntington home. 

During Search Investigators Find Controlled Substances

     During the search, investigators found and seized a quantity of cocaine, oxycodone pills, at least 3,787 tablets containing protonitazene, six firearms, and around $1,111 in U.S. currency in denominations consistent with narcotics sales.

     Protonitazene is a synthetic opioid that is more dangerous and deadly than fentanyl. The total weight of the confiscated tablets was roughly 813 grams. 

     Following entering his plea on Monday, Judge Chambers accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for April 28, 2025, at which time Shuler faces up to 20 years in federal prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine, or both. At the time of sentencing, Judge Chambers will determine the actual term of imprisonment based on the seriousness of the offense and Shuler’s prior criminal history.

Art Fletcher
Art Fletcher
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