Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

 BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Detroit man pled guilty to a federal drug charge today, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Kwaine Brengettcy, 34, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

“100% pure meth– this Detroit drug dealer was bringing 100% pure meth into Beckley and distributing it. This may be the most powerful and potent meth that has been identified in the district. It cannot get more powerful,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Compare the potency of today’s meth with the meth of just a few short years ago. Today’s meth is potent and powerful- 100% pure in this case- but the meth that wreaked havoc on our communities 10 or 15 years ago was comparatively weak at 15-25% purity and that weaker meth did plenty of damage to our communities and families. This meth is exponentially stronger. With poison peddlers like Brengettcy coming into our communities, it’s of no surprise that meth-related overdose deaths are on the rise in the Mountain State. With every successful prosecution of a drug dealer, we’re taking back our streets and fighting for the families who have lost loved ones to overdose.”

On February 28, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on a residence in Beckley. As the officers entered, they observed Brengettcy jump up and flee to the back room. They later located 21 grams of methamphetamine inside his jacket pocket. Brengettcy also had rented a hotel room nearby, which also was searched by law enforcement. Inside, they discovered $10,576 in U.S. currency. Some of the bills in that sum of cash were marked as being used in previous controlled drug buys by law enforcement.

Brengettcy was interviewed and admitted to bringing methamphetamine from Detroit to Beckley, and that he had been selling methamphetamine in the area for at least four months prior to his arrest. The methamphetamine that was recovered was sent to a Department of Homeland Security laboratory, where it was tested and proved to be 100% pure methamphetamine.

Brengettcy faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on December 14, 2020.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney L. Alexander Hamner 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. 5:20-cr-00067.