Ohio man indicted on drug and firearms charges

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Deonte Raymond James, of Euclid, Ohio, was indicted today on drug and firearms charges, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.

James, 34, was indicted today on one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine” and one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” James is accused of having methamphetamine in January 2022 in Marshall County. James, a person prohibited from having a firearm because of previous felony convictions, is also accused of having a .357 Magnum revolver.

James faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for the drug count and faces up to 10 years of incarceration and fine of up to $250,000 for the firearms count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Moundsville Police Department investigated.  The Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, assisted.

An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.