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CHARLESTON -- A Parkersburg man pleaded guilty Tuesday to a federal methamphetamine charge in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
According to court documents, the Parkersburg Police Department stopped Justin Andrew Beardsley, 33, on Lynne Street in Parkersburg for a traffic violation on June 1, 2019, a release from acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnson said. After a drug dog alerted on the vehicle, officers searched and found methamphetamine, packaging materials, scales, three loaded firearms, body armor, a hand grenade and miscellaneous ammunition, Johnston said.
At a plea hearing, Beardsley admitted his intent to sell the methamphetamine and acknowledged he had sold between 200 and 350 grams of methamphetamine in the year leading up to the traffic stop and arrest, Johnston said.
Beardsley pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on Nov. 8.
Johnston commended the Parkersburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua C. Hanks is handling the prosecution.