Bluefield Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Devon Basil Blankenship, 28, of Bluefield, pleaded guilty today to possession with the intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about June 13, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Blankenship's residence and seized 443 grams of methamphetamine. As part of his guilty plea, Blankenship admitted that he possessed the seized methamphetamine and intended to distribute it.

Blankenship is scheduled to be sentenced on March 8, 2027, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million.

Co-defendant Landon Joseph Cartwright, 23, of Bluefield, was sentenced on April 13, 2026, to one year and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, which consists of members of the West Virginia State Police, the Bluefield Police Department, the Mercer County Sheriff's Office, the McDowell County Sheriff's Office, and the Wyoming County Sheriff's Office.

Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons 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 PACERLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-115.

###