Huntington Federal Crackdown Results in Guilty Pleas for Illegal Firearm Trafficking and Fentanyl Distribution Network

Dylan Pettyjohn and Joe Cross plead guilty to firearm trafficking and fentanyl distribution in Huntington, WV, following a federal task force investigation.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 24, 2026, 9:08 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of West Virginia

Targeted Investigation Dismantles Local Trafficking Operations

Federal authorities in Huntington have secured key guilty pleas from two individuals central to a regional surge in narcotics and illegal weapon sales. Dylan James Pettyjohn, 21, and Joe Sidney Cross, 43, entered their pleas before U.S. District Judge Robert C. Chambers, marking a significant victory for local law enforcement. The cases were developed through a high level investigation that utilized confidential informants to penetrate a network responsible for circulating fentanyl, carfentanil, and firearms throughout the community.

The Illicit Sale of Firearms to Prohibited Persons

The case against Pettyjohn centered on a series of transactions where the defendant knowingly sold multiple firearms to an individual he believed to be a convicted felon. According to court documents, these sales included a Calwest .22 caliber pistol, a Glock 9mm handgun, and a 9mm rifle, all conducted over a period of several weeks in mid-2025. By admitting that he proceeded with the deals even after being informed of the buyer's prohibited status, Pettyjohn now faces a maximum of 15 years in federal prison for undermining public safety through illegal arms trafficking.

Fentanyl Distribution and Collaborative Criminal Activity

Joe Sidney Cross admitted to a more extensive role in the local drug trade, pleading guilty to the distribution of fentanyl. His criminal activities included a string of transactions involving several grams of the powerful synthetic opioid, often conducted inside vehicles to avoid detection. Furthermore, Cross confessed to conspiring with another local resident, Erin Leigh Keeney, to facilitate deals involving carfentanil, a substance significantly more potent and dangerous than standard fentanyl. This collaborative effort suggests a structured approach to saturating the local market with high risk narcotics.