Charleston Duo Sentenced For Roles In Meth Trafficking Organization

Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 2:00 P.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

CHARLESTON, W.VA.- On Monday, a 48-year-old man and a 47-year-old man, both of Charleston, West Virginia, appeared in Federal Court and were sentenced for their roles in a drug trafficking organization that was responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine throughout the streets of Charleston, West Virginia, and elsewhere.

     According to Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston, on Monday, August 25, 2025, Kirt Ray King, 48, and John Wayne Harkless, both from Charleston, appeared in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph R. Goodwin for their previously entered guilty pleas to federal drug trafficking offenses.

     Judge Goodwin sentenced King to 78 months in federal prison, to be followed by eight years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Distribute 500 Grams or More of a Mixture and Substance Containing a Controlled Substance, Methamphetamine; and Committing A Crime While on Supervised Release.

     Additionally, Judge Goodwin sentenced Harkless to 97 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Methamphetamine.

According To Court Documents

     According to documents and statements made in the District Court, during the course of a narcotics investigation, Investigators determined that beginning in and around January 2024, and lasting through May 2024, King and Harkless conspired with others to participate in a drug trafficking organization. During that time period, Harkless sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant on nine separate occasions during controlled buys under the observation of law enforcement investigators. 

     During the controlled buys, Investigators were ultimately able to determine that Harkless was obtaining his methamphetamine from King.

     Investigators further uncovered and confirmed that King was responsible for around 11 pounds of methamphetamine and had been supplying the controlled substance to several individuals, including co-defendants in the drug trafficking organization. At the time of the instant offense, King was serving a term of federal supervised release as a result of his December 3, 2004, convictions for federal drug trafficking and firearms offenses.

     King was additionally sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, to be served concurrently with his federal term of imprisonment, for violating his supervised release.

     In handing down the sentence on Monday, Judge Goodwin noted Harkless’s extensive criminal history that includes more than 23 prior convictions in four states. During the investigation into the drug trafficking organization, Investigators confirmed that Harkless was responsible for the distribution of nearly three pounds of methamphetamine.

King And Harkless Were Among Four Federally Indicted

     King and Harkless were among four individuals indicted by a Federal Grand Jury for the Southern District of West Virginia in the drug trafficking conspiracy, and all four have pleaded guilty to their roles in the organization.

     Anthony Michael Mowery, 49, of Parkersburg, West Virginia, was sentenced on April 21, 2025, to 108 months in federal prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of a substance containing methamphetamine and violating the terms and conditions of his supervised release. Michael Dale Caine, 49, of Parkersburg, West Virginia, was sentenced on January 29, 2025, to 96 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

     Acting U.S. Attorney Johnston commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.