Tracey Brown, a 46-year-old resident of Chelyan, was sentenced on March 26 to more than 21 years in prison and five years of supervised release for distributing at least 500 grams of methamphetamine.
The sentencing highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat drug trafficking in the Southern District of West Virginia. Authorities say such cases are significant due to the potential impact on community safety and public health.
According to court documents, Brown acquired about 17 pounds of methamphetamine from Dayton, Ohio, and brought it to his Elkview residence in December last year. He admitted distributing approximately one pound and intended to distribute the rest with another individual. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at his residence on December 13, seizing the remaining drugs.
Brown’s criminal record includes over thirty convictions for offenses such as malicious assault, battery, escape from work-release programs, destruction of property, and violating protective orders. United States Attorney Moore Capito said: “The message should be loud and clear — if you traffic drugs in our community, we will identify you, arrest you, and hold you accountable.” Capito added: “Thanks to the dedicated and professional police work by our law enforcement partners, Brown was prevented from distributing a massive amount of dangerous drugs in the Southern District of West Virginia.”
Capito commended several agencies involved in the investigation: the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, and U.S. Route 119 Drug Task Force. The task force includes members from sheriff’s offices across Mingo County, Logan County, Boone County as well as the West Virginia State Police.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed Brown’s sentence. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum and former Assistant United States Attorney Samuel D. Marsh prosecuted the case.
