Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Jan Orlin Petties, 48, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as "crack."

According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 3, 2026, Petties sold 10 grams of fentanyl and 3.5 grams of crack to a confidential informant in exchange for $650. As part of his guilty plea, Petties admitted that he conducted the transaction and that it occurred at his Huntington residence. Petties further admitted that he sold a confidential informant 10 grams of fentanyl in exchange for $500 on May 19, 2026, and 10 grams of fentanyl and 6 grams of crack in exchange for $650 on July 7, 2026. All these transactions occurred at Petties' residence.

On July 15, 2026, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Petties' residence and found approximately 10 grams of fentanyl, 22 grams of crack, 169 grams of cocaine and approximately $4,871. Petties admitted that he possessed the seized controlled substances and intended to distribute them for money, and that the seized cash was drug proceeds.

Petties is scheduled to be sentenced on February 16, 2027, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor is prosecuting the case.

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. 3:26-cr-103.

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