CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Two Kanawha Valley men have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms following a federal drug investigation into fentanyl and methamphetamine distribution in the Charleston area.
Michael Allen Corkhill, 31, of Dunbar, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Steven Jamar Alexander, 39, of Nitro, received a sentence of 15 years and eight months in prison, followed by six years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents, both men were involved in the same investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating in the Charleston area between June 2024 and May 2025.
Investigators said Corkhill obtained methamphetamine from a co-defendant and redistributed it to customers in and around Charleston.
He admitted to selling the drug on four occasions between October 2024 and January 2025 to a confidential informant near South Charleston.
Authorities determined Corkhill was responsible for distributing more than six pounds of methamphetamine as part of the operation.
Alexander admitted to selling approximately 20 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant on two occasions in March 2025 in St. Albans.
Later that month, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his Nitro residence, where they seized approximately 196 grams of fentanyl and nearly $8,000 in cash connected to the controlled purchases.
Court records also show Alexander had a prior federal drug conviction in 2019 and an extensive criminal history, including 35 convictions involving violent offenses and burglary.
“Michael Allen Corkhill is responsible for at least 6 pounds of methamphetamine poisoning our community, and Steven Jamar Alexander is a violent, woman-beating fentanyl dealer with dozens of prior criminal convictions,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito.
“Today’s sentences will keep our streets safe from both these offenders for a long time and show that my office will pursue the strongest punishment under the law against those who threaten our community.”
The two men were among 16 individuals indicted as part of the broader federal investigation.
Several defendants have pleaded guilty, while cases against others remain pending. Officials emphasized that any remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team, a multi-agency task force that includes several local law enforcement agencies in Kanawha and Putnam counties.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentences. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative targeting drug trafficking organizations, violent crime, and other criminal activity.
