Delano Alan Butler, age 45, has pleaded guilty to leading a drug trafficking organization in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle, according to an April 10 announcement by U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Butler admitted responsibility for distributing more than 400 grams of fentanyl—estimated at about 200,000 lethal doses—as well as methamphetamine and cocaine. The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to address the distribution of highly dangerous drugs like fentanyl, which officials say pose a significant risk even in small amounts.
Court documents show that Butler organized a group of six people who helped distribute the drugs from a property in Berkeley County. As part of his plea agreement, he will forfeit several firearms tied to the operation, including six semi-automatic rifles, two semi-automatic pistols, and one semi-automatic shotgun. Four co-defendants have also pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
Butler faces a possible prison sentence ranging from 180 to 288 months. His final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge after reviewing federal guidelines and other legal factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case.
The investigation was led by the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force with assistance from multiple federal and local agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (including field offices in Pittsburgh, San Francisco, San Juan, and Philadelphia), United States Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Service, Drug Enforcement Administration (Louisville and Chicago Divisions), Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives; as well as numerous state police departments across West Virginia and neighboring states.
Officials noted that President Donald Trump designated fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction due to its high lethality. The case is part of Operation Take Back America—a Department of Justice initiative aimed at eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations involved in violent crime and drug trafficking.
