Charleston Man Sentenced For Methamphetamine Distribution
Thursday, July 24, 2025, 6:30 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
CHARLESTON, W.VA.- A 45-year-old Charleston, West Virginia, man with an extensive decades-long criminal history will be spending over the next twelve years in federal prison, after being sentenced for a federal drug crime.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston, on Monday, July 21, 2025, Antwaun Winbush, 45, of Charleston, West Virginia, appeared in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and was sentenced by U.S. Senior U.S. District Court Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., to 151 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of a Substance Containing Methamphetamine.
According To Court Documents And Statements Made In Court
According to the charging documents filed and statements made in the District Court, on March 25, 2025, a member of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle being operated by Winbush on U.S. Route 35 in Putnam County, West Virginia.
Instead of pulling over his vehicle, Winbush fled the Sheriff’s Officer, reaching speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour. During the pursuit, Winbush dumped large quantities of methamphetamine and marijuana out of his vehicle’s window. Some of the thrown methamphetamine struck the Sheriff’s Officer’s patrol vehicle, causing the Officer to inhale methamphetamine through the air vents. Winbush almost struck multiple vehicles while fleeing before he lost control of his vehicle and came to a stop.
Sheriff’s Officers arrested Winbush following the pursuit and recovered some but not all of the methamphetamine from the roadway. During his previous plea allocation, Winbush admitted that he possessed around 141.8 grams of a mixture containing methamphetamine.
Winbush also committed other criminal conduct on October 4, 2021, and December 24, 2023. On October 4, 2021, a law enforcement Officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Winbush in Jackson County, West Virginia. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of around 227 grams of a mixture containing methamphetamine, eight grams of cocaine, 14.7 grams of fentanyl, and a Glock .357-caliber handgun found hidden behind the stereo area of the dashboard. Winbush admitted to possessing the seized narcotics and to intending to distribute them.
On December 24, 2023, during a narcotics investigation, law enforcement Investigators executed a court-authorized search warrant at Winbush’s home and located and seized more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, a firearm, and ammunition found concealed behind a loose wall. Investigators also located various items of drug paraphernalia, including scales, cutting agents, and plastic baggies, during the search.
Acting U.S. Attorney Reveals Winbush’s Prior Criminal Past
“Winbush’s criminal history dates back 30 years and includes 20 adult convictions. Winbush has shown time and again that he is only deterred from continuing his criminal conduct and putting citizens at risk when he is incarcerated,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Johnston. “I commend the brave law enforcement officers who safely apprehended the defendant after he endangered their lives and the public with his reckless attempt to flee the Putnam County traffic stop. I also commend the investigative work of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Charleston Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.”
