Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Gun Crimes

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Justin Dale Graves, 43, of St. Albans, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 30, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Graves' residence in St. Albans and seized over 3.3 kilograms of methamphetamine, a loaded Hi-Point model C-9 9mm pistol, a loaded Glock model 19 9mm pistol, 37.69 grams of fentanyl, 17.17 grams of cocaine, 2.29 grams of heroin, two digital scales, various rounds of live ammunition, a drug ledger, and $1,190.

As part of his guilty plea, Graves admitted that he possessed the seized methamphetamine and intended to distribute it, and possessed the seized firearms to protect himself, his drugs, and his drug proceeds. Graves further admitted that he sold approximately 27.21 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $225 in St. Albans on October 29, 2024, the day before the execution of the search warrant.

Graves is scheduled to be sentenced on September 2, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10,250,000.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the St. Albans Police Department.

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACERLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-19.

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