BECKLEY, W.Va. – Travis Jerome Darden, 45, an inmate, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, to possession of contraband in a federal correctional institution. According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 21, 2025, Darden was an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Beckley when a staff member conducted a random pat search on Darden and recovered approximately 1 ounce of suspected methamphetamine and approximately 9 grams of suspected cocaine in individually wrapped packages.Darden is scheduled to be sentenced on December 4, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is 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. 5:26-cr-59.###
Source: U.S. Department of Justice