HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Tony Eldon Lee Jr., 40, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine resulting in death.According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 19, 2025, Lee sold approximately 1.8 grams of methamphetamine to the 15-year-old son of his girlfriend, with whom he resided in Huntington, in exchange for $30. As part of his guilty plea, Lee admitted that he conducted the transaction after exchanging text messages with the teen, identified as “B.M.” Lee further admitted that B.M. died as a result of methamphetamine intoxication shortly after he ingested the methamphetamine that Lee sold to him, and that the methamphetamine was an independently sufficient cause of B.M.’s death.Lee is scheduled to be sentenced on February 1, 2027, and faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years and up to life in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.“A child lost their life because of this defendant’s actions. Those who flood our communities with illicit drugs show no regard for the lives they impact, devastate, and — tragically, in this case — destroy,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “I commend the Huntington Police Department for their exemplary work in ensuring this defendant was brought to justice. We must remain steadfast and unrelenting in our efforts to remove from our communities those who inflict harm through drug trafficking.”“This heartbreaking case highlights the devastating impact that illicit drugs have on our children,” said Huntington Police Chief Phil Watkins. “Our officers are dedicated to holding dealers accountable for the lives they destroy. I am grateful for the tireless work of our detectives and to the U.S. Attorney's Office for their partnership in securing this conviction.”United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor are 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 PACER by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-65.###
Source: U.S. Department of Justice