Methamphetamine Conspirator Sentenced to Over 17 Years in Prison

ABINGDON, Va. – A Southwest Virginia man, who conspired with others to sell methamphetamine in Tazewell and Russell Counties and possessed firearms, explosives, and destructive devices, was sentenced last week to 17 and one-half years in federal prison.

Steven Cantrell, 28, pled guilty in June 2022 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possessing a firearm and ammunition in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of possession of explosives after having been convicted of a felony and while being an unlawful drug user, and one count of possessing unregistered destructive devices.

In September 2022, co-conspirator Amanda Skeens was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison and Josh Goodman received a 9-year sentence. In August 2022, two other members of the conspiracy, Zachary Justice and Ronda Rose, were sentenced to 14 years and 7.5 years, respectively.

During 2019 and 2020, Justice and Cantrell sold methamphetamine out of an apartment they shared in Swords Creek, Virginia.  In addition, Justice also traded firearms to Cantrell in return for methamphetamine for resale.

As part of the conspiracy, Skeens supplied methamphetamine several times a week from her home in West Virginia to other conspiracy members, who then brought the dangerous drugs into Russell and Tazewell Counties for further distribution, bringing anywhere from two ounces to over one pound per trip.

Three destructive devices, seven blasting caps, fourteen firearms, and over 2,500 rounds of ammunition were recovered from Cantrell’s residence pursuant to search warrants.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh made the announcement.

The Russell County Sheriff’s Office, the Mercer County, West Virginia Sheriff’s Office, the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office, the Southern West Virginia Drug Task Force, the Tazewell County Drug Task Force, the Virginia State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher prosecuted the case.