Kanawha County Duo Plead Guilty To Federal Drug Distribution Charge

Monday, September 8, 2025, 9:15 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

CHARLESTON, W.VA.- A 29-year-old Charleston, West Virginia, man and a 23-year-old St. Albans, West Virginia, woman will be potentially spending the rest of their lives in federal prison when sentenced later this year, after the two pleaded guilty on Thursday, for their roles in a drug trafficking organization that was responsible for distributing deadly narcotics throughout the Charleston, West Virginia area, between June 2024 and May 2025.

     According to Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston, on Thursday, September 4, 2025, Quanda Kiev Wilborne, also known as “Quan” and “Queso,” 29, of Charleston, West Virginia, and Taylor Faith Walke, 23, of St. Albans, West Virginia, both appeared in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and each pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Joseph R. Goodwin to Conspiracy to Distribute 50 or More of a Controlled Substance, Methamphetamine.

Judge Goodwin Schedules Wilborne And Walke To Be Sentenced In December

     Following the entry of their guilty pleas, Judge Goodwin accepted the pleas and scheduled sentencing for December 18, 2025. At that time, both Wilborne and Walke each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison, at least five years, and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $10 million fine. At sentencing, a U.S. District Court Judge will determine the term of imprisonment based on the seriousness of each of the offenses and Wilborne and Walke’s prior criminal histories.

According To Charging Documents Filed With The Court

     According to the charging information filed with the District Court, during a narcotics investigation into a Kanawha County drug trafficking organization, Investigators learned that Wilborne obtained methamphetamine from co-conspirator, Amanda Marie Mace, and fentanyl from multiple sources, repackaged the narcotics, and then redistributed them within the Charleston area between June 2024 and May 2025.

     During his plea allocution on Thursday, Wilborne admitted that he obtained and redistributed around 24 pounds of methamphetamine from Mace, also known as “A,” 42, of South Charleston, West Virginia. Wilborne further admitted that on May 4, 2025, he sold a quarter pound of methamphetamine to co-conspirator Walke for $700, and Walke had contacted him by phone beforehand seeking to purchase the meth for a third individual. Law enforcement Investigators stopped Walke later that day and seized the meth and arrested her.

     Wilborne also admitted on Thursday that he possessed a firearm in connection with the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl on February 29, 2024, December 9, 2025, and January 15, 2025.

Investigation Leads To 12 Individuals Being Indicted

     Wilborne, Walke, and Mace are among twelve individuals indicted as a result of the federal investigation, on charges that they participated in the Drug Trafficking Organization. The indictment against Mace and the remaining defendants remains pending.

     Two additional defendants pleaded guilty in separate cases that resulted from the investigation. Steven Jamar Alexander, also known as “Dook, “39, of Nitro, West Virginia, pleaded guilty on July 28, 2025, to distribution of fentanyl and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 10, 2025. Rafael Cee-Erwin Solomon, also known as “Rip,” 44, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty on June 30, 2025, to three counts of distribution of fentanyl and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 9, 2025.