Beckley man pleads guilty to federal drug crime

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — A Beckley man pleaded guilty to a federal drug crime on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.

34-year-old Michael Dwayne Kelly II, of Beckley, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin.

According to court documents, Kelly sold around 6.9 grams of fentanyl for $700 to a confidential informant at his house in Beckley on January 27, 2022. Kelly acknowledged his involvement in the sale, and that on February 20, 2022, he also sold about 28 grams of fentanyl for $500 to the confidential informant.

A search warrant was carried out by law enforcement officers on February 17, 2022 at Kelly’s house in the Beckley area of Raleigh County. Multiple drugs, including 27 grams of heroin, 189 grams of fentanyl, and 56 grams of cocaine were discovered, as well as four handguns and $13,046. Kelly revealed that he planned to distribute the drugs throughout southern West Virginia.

Kelly’s sentencing is scheduled for August 23, 2024, and he faces up to 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years of parole, and a $1 million fine.

Co-defendant 31-year-old Savannah Elizabeth Todd, of Beckley, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine and heroin on March 1, 2024 and still awaits sentencing.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Will Thompson, who thanked the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for their work on the investigation.

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