Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jason Todd Painter, 40, of Clendenin, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from March 15, 2023 through June 24, 2023, Painter received 11 packages containing methamphetamine sent by a co-conspirator from New York to Painter’s residence in Clendenin. Painter kept some of the methamphetamine for himself and held the rest for the co-conspirator to pick up. The co-conspirator occasionally directed Painter to deliver methamphetamine to other individuals in the Kanawha County area.

On July 15, 2023, the co-conspirator shipped a package through the United States Postal Service from New York to Painter in Clendenin. Law enforcement intercepted the package and discovered that it contained approximately 4.2 kilograms of methamphetamine.

Painter is scheduled to be sentenced on October 16, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum is prosecuting the case.

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. 2:23-cr-182. 

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