A Kanawha County man faces life in prison after pleading guilty to meth distribution

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — A Kanawha County man faces life in prison after a drug trafficking investigation revealed about 17 pounds of methamphetamine was brought into West Virginia from out of state, prosecutors said.

Tracey Brown, 45, of Chelyan pleaded guilty Tuesday to distributing 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

The press release stated that Brown brought the illegal drugs from Dayton, Ohio, to a home in Elkview in December 2023. Prosecutors said Brown admitted to moving about a pound of the methamphetamine and planning to distribute the rest in southern West Virginia.

Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the West Virginia State Police, worked together to secure a search warrant for the Elkview home and seize the illegal substances, federal prosecutors said.

Prosecutors noted that Brown is scheduled to be sentenced on March 12, when he faces a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison, along with at least five years of supervised release and a $10 million fine.