Detroit Felon Convicted On Federal Drug Trafficking & Firearms Crimes

Wednesday, August 20, 2025, 11:45 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

CHARLESTON, W.VA.- A 32-year-old Detroit, Michigan, armed drug trafficker will be facing up to life in prison, after being found guilty yesterday of federal firearms and narcotics charges.

     According to Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston, on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, following a two-day trial, before U.S. District Court Judge Irene C. Berger,  a Federal Jury for the Southern District of West Virginia, found Antonio Shelby, Jr., of Detroit, Michigan, guilty of Possession with Intent to Distribute Quantities of controlled Substances, Methamphetamine and Fentanyl; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Trafficking Crime.

     Following the jury returning their findings of guilt, Judge Berger accepted the jury’s verdict and scheduled sentencing for January 8, 2026. At that time, Berger faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in federal prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. At sentencing, a U.S. District Court Judge will determine the term of imprisonment based on the seriousness of the offenses and Shelby’s prior criminal history.

According To The Evidence Presented At Trial

     According to the evidence presented at trial, on January 10, 2024, a Police Officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being operated by Shelby in the Institute area of Kanawha County, West Virginia. During the stop, the Police Officer detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, and asked Shelby to exit the vehicle, and told him the vehicle would be searched. Shelby fled in the vehicle, reaching speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour on West Virginia Route 25, and then on to Interstate 64 with the Police Officer in pursuit.

     The pursuit ended when Shelby crashed his vehicle as he attempted to exit Interstate 64 at the South Charleston off-ramp. Shelby was found climbing out of the vehicle and was quickly detained by Police Officers. When Officers lifted Shelby off the ground, they found a .380-caliber handgun, loaded and with a round chambered, on the ground underneath him. 

     Police Officers found a bag in the vehicle that contained quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana, multiple digital scales, and $2,495 in U.S. currency. The methamphetamine was found packaged in 17 small individual baggies.

     A records check at the time uncovered that Shelby has prior felony convictions, including fleeing from a law enforcement officer and reckless driving, causing serious impairment of a body function.

     “Shelby endangered the community by trafficking drugs while armed with a gun and also endangered both the public and law enforcement officers when he recklessly fled the traffic stop,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston. “I commend the law enforcement officers who safely apprehended the defendant and those who investigated this case, and I also commend Assistant U.S. Attorneys JC MacCallum and Jeremy B. Wolfe and our trial team for securing guilty verdicts on both counts of the indictment.”