Kanawha County Meth Dealer Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Kanawha County methamphetamine dealer was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Douglas Matthew Spry, 42, stands convicted of possession with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine. The investigation was conducted by the Nitro Police Department, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations.

“Drug dealers aren’t welcome here,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “If they chose to peddle their poisons in our communities, we will push for the longest sentences possible.”

Spry admitted that on December 10, 2017, his vehicle was the subject of a traffic stop near Nitro, West Virginia. The vehicle was stopped for a defective registration light. An officer with the Nitro Police Department could smell burnt marijuana emanating from the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, officers located digital scales, a large amount of United States currency, and 70.41 grams of methamphetamine in the glove box. Spry denied knowledge of the methamphetamine but informed the officer that his fingerprints would likely be on the bag.

Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is handling the prosecution.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.