Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Gun Charges

 CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A St. Albans man pleaded guilty today to federal drug and gun crimes.

According to court documents, Ricky Lee Clark, Sr., 53, admitted that on July 2, 2019, a member of the St. Albans Police Department pulled over his truck, which was being driven by a woman, but in which he was the passenger. Clark admitted that handgun ammunition was recovered from the truck and he had approximately thirteen grams of methamphetamine in his pocket. Clark also admitted that pursuant to the execution of a search warrant at his residence, the police recovered six firearms later that day. Clark is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of a prior felony conviction for conspiring to operate a clandestine drug laboratory.

Clark pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of firearms and being a felon in possession of ammunition. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 22, 2021 and faces up to 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston of the Southern District of West Virginia made the announcement.

The St. Albans Police Department conducted the investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the United States Marshals Service.  United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Nowles Heinrich is handling the prosecution.