BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Myles Robert Williams, 37, of Beckley, pleaded guilty on Thursday to being a felon in possession of a firearm, admitting to possessing both a handgun and fentanyl with intent to distribute.
The plea stems from a March 26, 2024, traffic stop in Beckley, where law enforcement officers found a Ruger EC9S 9mm semi-automatic handgun and 41 grams of fentanyl in Williams’ vehicle.
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Williams acknowledged in court that he carried the gun for protection and intended to distribute the fentanyl.
Court records also reveal that Williams sold 1.3 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant shortly before the traffic stop.
Federal law prohibits felons from possessing firearms, and Williams, who has a 2013 felony conviction for common law robbery in North Carolina, admitted he knew he was barred from carrying a firearm.
Williams faces up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine at his sentencing, scheduled for February 7, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Will Thompson credited the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit for their role in the investigation, which included officers from the West Virginia State Police, Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and Beckley Police Department.
