Wheeling man admits to drug charge

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Lewis Smith, of Wheeling, West Virginia, has admitted to selling cocaine near a local school, Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.

Smith, also known as “Duck,” 50, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Distribution of Cocaine Base within 1000 feet of a Protected Location.” Smith admitted to selling cocaine base or “crack” near St. Michael Parish School in January 2018 in Ohio County. 

Smith faces at least one year and up to 40 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $2,000,000. 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 Clayton J. Reid is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.

U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.