A Keyser, West Virginia resident has admitted to participating in the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Mineral County. Lucas Earl Shoemaker, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine hydrochloride. According to U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey, Shoemaker operated a drug trafficking organization from his home on Knobley Road.
Authorities executed a search warrant at Shoemaker’s residence after receiving information about illegal activity. During the search, law enforcement seized significant amounts of fentanyl, high-purity methamphetamine, cocaine, firearms, ammunition, cash, and materials used for drug distribution.
On September 24, 2024, police responded to a 911 call regarding suspicious behavior at a local business in Mineral County. Officers found Shoemaker carrying a loaded Springfield XD .45-caliber handgun and discovered a Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 rifle in his vehicle. Due to a previous felony conviction for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, Shoemaker was not allowed to have firearms. Police also recovered fentanyl and syringes from the vehicle.
Shoemaker’s guilty plea addresses his involvement in distributing fentanyl and possessing firearms illegally. “Fentanyl—a substance President Donald J. Trump has publicly described as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality—poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts,” according to the release.
Shoemaker could face up to 20 years in prison. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case. The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force conducted the investigation as part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative aimed at eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protecting communities from violent crime.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided over the proceedings.
