Mercer County man sentenced for fentanyl crime

BLUEFIELD, WV (WVNS) — A Mercer County man was sentenced to prison for a drug crime involving fentanyl.

27-year-old Austin Pannell, of Bluefield, was sentenced on July 15, 2024 to nine years in prison, followed by three years of parole, for distribution of fentanyl.

According to court documents, Pannell sold an amount of fentanyl on August 18, 2022 to a confidential informant outside of an apartment in Princeton. Pannell acknowledged his involvement in the sale, and also revealed that he sold additional amounts of fentanyl to a confidential informant in Bluefield and Princeton three different times between July 12, 2022, and August 18, 2022.

Members of law enforcement arrested Pannell on July 27, 2023 at a house in Bluefield. When a search warrant was carried out, officers discovered 568 grams of fentanyl, a handgun, and an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney, who thanked the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force for their work on the investigation.

Members of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, Bluefield Police Department, Princeton Police Department, the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office, and the West Virginia State Police make up the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.