Beckley Man Sentenced on Federal Drug and Gun Charges
BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Beckley man was sentenced on federal drug and gun charges, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Derrick Mitchell, 30, was sentenced to 96 months in prison for distribution of heroin and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Beckley/Raleigh County Drug Task Force.
“A deadly combination,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Mitchell was selling firearms in addition to trafficking powerful and dangerous drugs. With Mitchell off to federal prison, Raleigh County is no doubt a safer place to live.”
Previously, Mitchell admitted that on December 12, 2017, he sold what he believed to be heroin, but in fact turned out to be a mix of heroin and fentanyl, to a confidential informant working with the ATF. The drugs sold on that date were tested by the Drug Enforcement Administration and confirmed to contain heroin and fentanyl. Mitchell also admitted that on January 9, 2018, he sold two firearms, a Taurus, model PT111, Millennium G2, 9mm semi-automatic pistol and a German, model Makarov MP, 9 X 18mm caliber pistol, to a confidential informant who was again working with the ATF. This transaction was audio and video recorded. At the time Mitchell sold the firearms, he was prohibited from possessing any firearm under federal law because of a 2015 drug-related felony conviction in Raleigh County, West Virginia. Mitchell further admitted to selling cocaine and “crack” cocaine on four other occasions. During one of those occasions, Mitchell also sold another firearm knowing that he was prohibited from possessing any firearms. On January 24, 2018, officers executed a search warrant at Mitchell’s residence and located additional firearms.
Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess handled the prosecution. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence.
