ABINGDON, Va. (WJHL) — A Wise County man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after trafficking large amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin into Southwest Virginia.

According to a news release from the Department of Justice (DOJ), James Edward Williams, 43, pleaded guilty in February 2025 to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

The DOJ said on two occasions in April 2024, Williams sold confidential informants roughly 41 grams of methamphetamine from his residence. Months later, in July, Williams was the driver in a vehicle crash, where police reportedly found a loaded handgun, about 25 grams of meth, two baggies of “green plant material” and two smoking devices.

Two weeks later, Williams was pulled over and reportedly failed a standard sobriety test. A search of the vehicle found a small plastic bag containing meth on his person, roughly 44 grams of meth in the vehicle and three lock boxes, each containing a pistol, in his vehicle, according to the DOJ. Officers also found an illegal silencer and a plastic bag containing fentanyl and/or xylazine, the release said.

Williams was previously sentenced to 10 years on drug charges in 2017.

The DOJ, Southwest Drug Task Force, Wise County Sheriff’s Office, Norton Police Department, Virginia State Police, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.