CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Andre Dewayne Williamson, aka “A3,” 36, of Charleston, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison, to be followed by 6 years of supervised release, for five counts of distribution of fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
A federal jury convicted Williamson of the offenses following a three-day trial. Evidence at trial proved that Williamson sold quantities of fentanyl to a confidential informant on five occasions in Charleston between July 5 and July 25, 2022. Williamson possessed a pistol in furtherance of the July 5, 2022, drug transaction.
Williamson has a long criminal history with eight prior convictions including voluntary manslaughter on July 30, 2018, unlawful assault with a firearm and wanton endangerment on February 6, 2008, being a felon in possession of a firearm on March 4, 2013, and on August 6, 2013, and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, cocaine, on September 9, 2018, all in Kanawha County Circuit Court. Williamson was also convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm in Kanawha County Magistrate Court on August 6, 2013. Williamson was on parole at the time of his current offense.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Williamson knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions when he chose to arm himself with a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking to protect his controlled substances, his proceeds and himself.
Williamson’s criminal history also includes violent offenses involving firearms. In separate incidents, Williamson fatally shot one individual, shot and wounded another individual in the leg and shot at a third individual who was killed during that altercation.
“Andre Williamson is a longtime criminal, and has a history of not only violent offenses but also drug-dealing offenses. He was sentenced today for dealing fentanyl, which I think is one of our greatest threats we’re currently dealing with, both in our state and our society,” said U.S. Attorney Will Thompson. “This case is the result of excellent investigative work by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team and the Charleston Police Department, with vital assistance provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration Mid-Atlantic Laboratory. I also commend Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie M. White and Joshua Hanks and our trial team for prosecuting the case and securing guilty verdicts on all six counts against Williamson.”
Senior U.S. District Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr. imposed the sentence.
Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for case number 2:22-cr-154.
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