Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Edward Keith Perkins, 31, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 19, 2024, Perkins shipped a box containing approximately 4.43 kilograms of methamphetamine from California to a Virginia Street address on the West Side of Charleston, West Virginia. Perkins then traveled to West Virginia and on August 22, 2024, drove to the Virginia Street address. Perkins admitted that he intended to retrieve the package from the residence's front porch and place it in the trunk of his vehicle when law enforcement officers approached his vehicle. Perkins further admitted that the package contained approximately 50 grams of fentanyl in addition to the 4.43 kilograms of methamphetamine.

Perkins is scheduled to be sentenced on March 6, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT). MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys JC MacCallum and Alexander A. Redmon are 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 PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-158.

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