Huntington man pleads guilty to fentanyl and gun crimes (DOJ)

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Wesley Tramaine Cornish, 22, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 6, 2026, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Huntington residence where Cornish was staying and seized approximately 37.77 grams of fentanyl, a loaded Glock model 19 9mm pistol, and a loaded Taurus model G2C 9mm pistol. As part of his guilty plea, Cornish admitted that he possessed and intended to distribute the seized fentanyl and possessed the seized firearms to protect himself and the seized fentanyl while distributing fentanyl from the residence on other occasions.

Cornish further admitted to selling approximately 23.81 grams of fentanyl on March 4, 2026, and approximately 26 grams of fentanyl on March 10, 2026, each time to a confidential informant in Huntington. Cornish also admitted to selling approximately 21.57 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in exchange for $1,200 on December 16, 2025.

Cornish is scheduled to be sentenced on January 19, 2027, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl, a consecutive mandatory minimum term of at least five years and up to life in prison for possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1,250,000.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Huntington Police Department.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice's nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys' offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department's commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump's Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

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. 3:26-cr-22.

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