Greenbrier County man sentenced for federal drug crime

LEWISBURG, WV (WVNS) — A man from Greenbrier County was sentenced to prison for a federal drug crime.

42-year-old Rance Allen Mitchem, of Lewisburg, was sentenced on Thursday, August 15, 2024, to nine years and two months in prison, followed by four years of parole, for possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to a press release, court documents stated that members of law enforcement carried out a search warrant at Mitchem’s apartment in Lewisburg on July 27, 2022. During the search, officers seized around 38 grams of methamphetamine, packaging materials, scales, and a handgun.

The press release stated that Mitchem revealed that not only was he in possession of the methamphetamine that officers found, but that he was also in possession of 93.1 grams of methamphetamine located in his car. According to the press release, officers found the additional amounts of methamphetamine in the car.

Mitchem reportedly revealed that he planned to use some of the methamphetamine that the officers found, and distribute the rest. The release then stated Mitchem also told members of law enforcement that for around five months, he distributed amounts of methamphetamine a minimum of once a week.

According to the press release, Mitchem was on parole for first-degree robbery at the time the search warrant was carried out due to a conviction in 2003 in Greenbrier County Circuit Court for robbing a Greenbrier County pharmacy of oxycodone and hydrocodone pills while in possession of a sawed-off shotgun.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Will Thompson, who thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Greenbrier Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force for their work on the investigation.

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