Putnam County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearm Charges

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Putnam County man was sentenced to federal prison on drug and firearm charges, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Malcolm Hodges, 25, previously entered guilty pleas to illegally possessing a firearm, and possessing and intending to distribute methamphetamine.  Hodges was sentenced to a total of 78 months in prison – 18 months on the firearms charge, and 60 months on the methamphetamine charge.  U.S. Attorney Stuart commended the cooperative investigative efforts of several agencies, including the Dunbar Police Department, the West Virginia State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

“Unfortunately, Hodges’ previous state conviction didn’t deter him from criminal activity,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Hopefully, after spending over 6 more years in federal prison, he will make better choices.”   

Hodges, a convicted felon, admitted that on September 1, 2016, he fled a DUI checkpoint in Teays Valley, and that he had a .45 caliber revolver in his possession at the time.  Hodges is prohibited from possessing any firearms under federal law because of a 2013 felony conviction for wanton endangerment with a firearm in the Circuit Court of Kanawha County. 

Hodges also admitted that on April 23, 2017, he threw 72 grams of methamphetamine out of the passenger-side window of his car after a Dunbar Police Department officer attempted to pull him over for a traffic violation.  The methamphetamine was quickly recovered, along with a large amount of cash from Hodges’ vehicle and person. 

Assistant United States Attorney Matt Davis was in charge of the prosecution. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers  handed down the sentence.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

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