John Thompson, a 49-year-old resident of White Oak in Raleigh County, has pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The plea was entered in federal court in Beckley.
Court documents state that on March 18, 2024, Thompson oversaw the sale of approximately 205 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant for $2,500. As part of his guilty plea, Thompson admitted to arranging this transaction after meeting with the informant and acknowledged that co-defendant Sharee Woodson carried out the actual exchange. He also admitted to selling methamphetamine on February 28 and March 1, 2024, as well as fentanyl on March 4 and March 13, 2024—each time to the same confidential informant.
Thompson is scheduled for sentencing on May 8, 2026. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and could receive up to life imprisonment. The sentence may also include at least five years of supervised release and a fine that could reach $10 million.
Sharee Woodson, age 45 from Beckley, previously pleaded guilty on October 29, 2025. She admitted to possession with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of methamphetamine and an amount of cocaine base (“crack”). Her sentencing is set for March 27, 2026.
United States Attorney Moore Capito announced the plea and praised the investigative work by the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit. This unit includes officers from the West Virginia State Police, Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and Beckley Police Department.
The hearing was overseen by United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting the case.
Additional information about this case can be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia or through PACER by searching Case No. 5:25-cr-116.
