Wise County Man Sentenced to 10 Years on Drug and Gun Charges

Editor's Note: This matter occurred on the date indicated but was not published at that time due to a lapse in federal appropriations. Press releases are posted and made available following the return to normal operations

ABINGDON, Va. – A Wise, Virginia man, who conspired to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine and illegally possessed a firearm as a convicted felon, was sentenced November 7 to 10 years in federal prison.

Michael Wynn Whitaker Jr., 45, previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, Whitaker was a key distributor of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine in Wise County, Virginia from January 2023 through September 2024. Whitaker routinely traveled to West Virginia with co-conspirators to purchase two-to-ten ounces of methamphetamine and an ounce of fentanyl at any one time for further distribution in Southwest Virginia.

Further, Whitaker made at least 25 trips to Kentucky to purchase at least two ounces of methamphetamine per trip for further distribution. Despite being a convicted felon, Whitaker kept firearms at his home, where much of his drug distribution behavior took place.

Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, and Southwest Drug Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena Busscher and Danielle Stone prosecuted the case for the United States.