Dylan James Pettyjohn, 21, and Joe Sidney Cross, 43, both of Huntington, pleaded guilty on Mar. 23 to separate federal charges related to firearms and fentanyl distribution. The pleas are the result of an investigation into drug trafficking in the Huntington area.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to address illegal drug activity and firearm offenses in the region. Both men face significant prison sentences as part of their plea agreements.
According to court documents, Pettyjohn admitted selling a Calwest model J-22 .22-caliber pistol for $150 on April 23, 2025, after arranging the sale with a confidential informant who identified himself as a convicted felon. He also acknowledged two additional firearm sales: a Glock model 34 pistol for $600 on May 13, and a Just Right Carbines rifle for $650 on May 22.
Cross pleaded guilty to distributing approximately 3.5 grams of fentanyl for $220 on May 13 in a transaction that took place inside the informant’s vehicle. He further admitted conspiring with another individual for additional sales involving both firearms and carfentanil in March; selling larger quantities of fentanyl in May and June; and intending to sell about 12.35 grams of crack cocaine seized during a September search at his residence.
Both defendants are scheduled for sentencing on July 6. Pettyjohn faces up to fifteen years in prison with supervised release requirements and fines up to $250,000; Cross could receive up to twenty years imprisonment with similar conditions but higher potential fines.
United States Attorney Moore Capito commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Huntington Police Department, and Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force for their work investigating these cases. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearings while Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted them.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America—a national initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling criminal organizations such as cartels or transnational groups (TCOs), and reducing violent crime.
