HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Corey Michael Perkins, 33, of Huntington, was sentenced today to 11 years and eight months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to have drugs smuggled into the Western Regional Jail. In a separate case, Perkins was sentenced to three years and one month in prison for aiding and abetting the illegal straw purchase of firearms. The two sentences will run concurrently.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from November to December 2020, Perkins coordinated with multiple individuals to get drugs into the Western Regional Jail in Barboursville. Perkins admitted to using jail phone calls, which were recorded, to arrange for a package containing 228 suboxone strips, 1.4 grams of fentanyl/methamphetamine mixture, and 1 gram of methamphetamine to be transported into the jail. Perkins utilized an inmate and a person who worked at the jail to carry out the scheme. Perkins was aware that the drugs were intended for redistribution in the jail, and that he would receive money in exchange for the drugs.
Perkins further admitted to arranging for another person to buy four firearms for him at a Huntington pawn shop. On June 30, 2020, Perkins picked out the four firearms: a Rock Island M1-1911 FS, .45-caliber pistol; a Taurus 1911, .45-caliber pistol; an Anderson AM-15, multi-caliber rifle; and a Spikes ST-15, .300-caliber rifle. Perkins told an employee he would send someone to purchase the firearms. Perkins admitted that he aided, abetted, counseled, and induced that straw purchaser to falsely state and represent on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Federal Firearms Transaction Records Form 4473 that she was the actual transferee and buyer of the firearms. Perkins was the actual transferee and buyer of the firearms. Perkins further admitted to providing the straw purchaser with the necessary cash to buy the firearms.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Perkins knew he could not purchase the firearms himself because of his prior felony conviction for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in Cabell County Circuit Court on January 10, 2013.
Perkins pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute suboxone, methamphetamine, and fentanyl, and to aiding and abetting the making of false statements in the acquisition of firearms.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the ATF, the West Virginia State Police, the Huntington Police Department, and the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation Investigations Unit.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentences. Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan A. Keefe and Courtney L. Cremeans prosecuted the cases.
The drug case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), an enforcement surge that seeks to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas.
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. 3:21-cr-215 and 3:22-cr-56.
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