Joseph Daniel Skeens, a 35-year-old resident of St. Albans, West Virginia, has been sentenced to seven years and three months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for distributing methamphetamine. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Irene C. Berger.
Court documents reveal that on November 17, 2023, Skeens sold approximately 2.5 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for a new Rigid impact wrench still in its original packaging. He admitted to this transaction and confessed to at least three more between October 2, 2023, and November 22, 2023. These involved the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in return for money or items like tools and groceries shoplifted at his direction near his residence.
Skeens' transactions included selling 3.46 grams of fentanyl for $50 on October 2, selling 1.34 grams of methamphetamine for a Rigid rotary power hammer on November 18, and exchanging about one gram of methamphetamine for $100 worth of groceries on November 22. Each deal involved a confidential informant.
Law enforcement stopped Skeens' vehicle twice during this period. On October 2, officers seized around 220.98 grams of methamphetamine from his car on Interstate 64 near Hurricane. Later, on October 23 in Charleston, they confiscated approximately 54.63 grams of methamphetamine and a firearm from another vehicle he was driving.
Skeens has an extensive criminal record with multiple prior convictions including attempting to manufacture a controlled substance and possessing a stolen vehicle.
United States Attorney Will Thompson announced the sentencing while praising the investigative efforts of the St. Albans Police Department along with assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum prosecuted the case.
Further information is available through the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for the Southern District of West Virginia or by searching Case No. 2:23-cr-200 on PACER.