Akron Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Multi-State Meth Conspiracy

 HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – An Akron, Ohio man who participated in a conspiracy which saw large quantities of methamphetamine transported from Akron and distributed in the Southern District of West Virginia pled guilty today, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Lennie T. Whisenant, Jr., 25, entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

“I’ll tell you a secret: WV is not the place to seek drugs. Another one from Akron. Incredible how these out-of-state drug dealers keep coming to West Virginia to peddle their poisons. We’ll keep arresting them and prosecuting them,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.

Whisenant admitted that during the months of April and May of 2019, he participated in a conspiracy with multiple individuals to distribute methamphetamine in the Southern District of West Virginia. Whisenant and others used a residence located at 1235 25th Street in Huntington to store methamphetamine after it was shipped from the Akron area. Whisenant and others then distributed the methamphetamine to various customers in the Huntington and Charleston areas. Whisenant also made reports back to sources in Akron regarding amounts of methamphetamine that had been sold and amounts that remained in Huntington. As part of his plea, Whisenant admitted that he was responsible for distributing up to 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine during the conspiracy.    

Whisenant faces 10 years to life in federal prison when he is sentenced on November 30, 2020. 

The joint investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Other agencies which participated and assisted in the investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force, the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, the United States Marshals Service, the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Akron, Ohio Police Department, and the Brecksville, Ohio Police Department.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecution.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:19-cr-00245.