Emmanuel Covington, a 34-year-old resident of Charleston, has pleaded guilty to the federal charge of distributing 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. The plea was entered in Beckley federal court.
Court documents and statements revealed that on April 30, 2025, Covington sold approximately 19.7 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Beckley. As part of his plea, Covington admitted to this transaction. He also acknowledged selling a mixture containing methamphetamine and fentanyl on April 16, 2025, fentanyl alone on May 6, 2025, and another mixture containing methamphetamine on June 4, 2025. Each sale was made to a confidential informant in Charleston.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Covington’s residence in Charleston on June 5, 2025. During the search, officers seized quantities of fentanyl and a mixture containing methamphetamine as well as a Ruger pistol.
Covington is scheduled for sentencing on March 6, 2026. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to forty years in prison. In addition to incarceration, he could receive at least four years of supervised release and be fined up to $5 million.
United States Attorney Moore Capito announced the plea and recognized the investigative efforts by the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit—which includes officers from the West Virginia State Police, Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and Beckley Police Department—as well as the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of personnel from several local law enforcement agencies.
The hearing was presided over by United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting the case.
Additional information about this case can be found through PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-cr-110.
