Randolph County man admits to drug charge

ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Joshua Derek Raines, of Elkins, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.

Raines, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of “Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Crime.” Raines admitted to having a .40 caliber pistol during a drug trafficking crime in August 2019.

Raines faces at least five years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. 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 Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force investigated.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.