Mark Lawrence Lowe, known as "Cell," 24, from Detroit, Michigan, has entered a guilty plea for his involvement in an organization trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl in Huntington, West Virginia. Lowe confessed to aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute significant quantities of these substances.
According to legal documents, Lowe's activities with the drug trafficking organization (DTO) occurred between September 2023 and November 2023, spanning various Southern District of West Virginia locations. On September 9, 2023, a traffic stop on Interstate 64 by law enforcement led to the confiscation of approximately 149 grams of fentanyl and 222.62 grams of methamphetamine from a vehicle occupied by Lowe and co-conspirator Paul Anthony Rucker. Lowe admitted their intention to distribute these substances.
Lowe's sentencing is set for July 28, 2025. He could face a minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a minimum of five years of supervised release, and a fine up to $10 million.
Co-defendant Rucker, 47, from Nitro, received a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence in July 2024, followed by a three-year supervised release for his role in the same offenses.
Lowe and Rucker are among 27 individuals charged with distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl, transported from Detroit to Huntington. Of these, 24, including Lowe and Rucker, have pleaded guilty. Charges for the other defendants are still pending. An indictment remains an allegation until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston acknowledged the investigative efforts of multiple agencies, including the FBI, DEA, and the West Virginia State Police among others. The investigation forms part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, which targets significant drug trafficking and money laundering networks posing threats to public safety, economic, and national security.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the case, with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor.
Information on the case (No. 3:23-cr-180) is available on the PACER and the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for the Southern District of West Virginia.