Charleston Man With More Than $20,000 Cash, Half-kilo Of Cocaine Pleads Guilty To Federal Drug Charge

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man who possessed a total of more than $20,000 in cash and nearly a half-kilogram of cocaine inside of his residence entered a guilty plea today to a federal drug charge.  Jason McGhee, 35, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine.  On April 24, 2013, a confidential informant working with the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) arranged to purchase cocaine from McGhee. The police informant later arrived at McGhee’s residence and gave the defendant $2400 in pre-recorded buy money to fulfill a previous drug debt.  A short time later, McGhee handed the informant five ounces of suspected cocaine.  Afterward, the informant submitted the suspected cocaine to law enforcement agents.  The suspected cocaine was field tested by law enforcement and proved to be 146 grams of cocaine. 

Following the controlled drug transaction between McGhee and the informant, police executed a search warrant on the defendant’s residence.  During the search, officers found the $2400 in pre-recorded currency that was used during the controlled drug transaction, along with an additional $17,800 in cash, two sets of digital scales and approximately 499 grams of cocaine. 

In total, McGhee is responsible for distributing a total of at least two kilograms but less than 3.5 kilograms of cocaine. 

McGhee faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine when he is sentenced on October 16, 2013 by United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston.

The investigation was conducted by MDENT and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).  Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman is in charge of the prosecution.