Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man pleaded guilty today to a federal drug crime. 

According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the Charleston residence of Donavan Hardison, 31, on January 4, 2021.  The officers found approximately 2.826 grams of fentanyl on Hardison and  approximately 3.672 grams of cocaine base in Hardison’s vehicle.  Hardison admitted that he intended to distribute both controlled substances.  At the time, Hardison was serving terms of supervised release in conjunction with two prior federal convictions.

Hardison pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute quantities of fentanyl and cocaine base, for which he faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on February 17, 2022.  In addition, Hardison faces up to four years in prison for his supervised release violations. 

Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the plea hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Nick Miller is handling the prosecution.

United States Attorney William S. Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00130; 2:18-cr-00040; and 2:15-cr-00135.

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