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.
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.
