Jonathan Kennedy, a 45-year-old resident of St. Albans, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. The plea was entered on December 4, 2025.
Court records indicate that between May and August 2025, Kennedy was involved in a scheme distributing methamphetamine in St. Albans and other locations. During the proceedings, Kennedy acknowledged that a co-conspirator based in California shipped multiple pounds of methamphetamine to Kanawha County. He admitted to taking possession of these shipments and arranging for another individual to pick up the drugs from delivery sites before redistributing them.
Kennedy further admitted that he supplied half-pound quantities of methamphetamine to a co-conspirator on two occasions—May 30 and June 24, 2025—after being contacted for additional supply intended for further distribution. On June 25, he distributed approximately 690 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in St. Albans.
Law enforcement intercepted a package destined for Dunbar on August 22, discovering about 38 pounds of methamphetamine inside. Officers substituted most of the drug with a non-narcotic substance before delivering the package as planned. Kennedy arranged for its pickup and took possession at an address in St. Albans before being arrested by authorities shortly afterward.
At the time of these offenses, Kennedy was under supervised release following an October 4, 2022 conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Sentencing is set for March 26, 2026. Kennedy faces at least ten years and up to life imprisonment, at least five years up to lifetime supervised release, and could be fined up to $10 million.
U.S. Attorney Moore Capito announced the plea agreement and praised the efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT). MDENT includes members from several local law enforcement agencies: Charleston Police Department, Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Nitro Police Department, St. Albans Police Department, and South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston oversaw the hearing while Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.
Further details can be found through PACER by searching Case No. 2:25-cr-166 via the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for the Southern District of West Virginia.
