Please E-mail suggested additions, comments and/or corrections to Kent@MoreLaw.Com.
Help support the publication of case reports on MoreLaw
United States of America v. Kelvin Rydele Myles, also known as “D” and Kristina Renea Clark
Date: 07-17-2026
Case Number: 2:26-cr-00018
Judge: Irene C. Berger
Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia (Kanawaha County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: Lesley Shamblin
Defendant's Attorney: David Schles for Kelvin Rydele Myles
Ray Franks for Kristina Renea Clark
Description:
Charleston, West Virginia, criminal defense lawyers represented the Defendants charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs.
Reported by Kent Morlan
On March 14, 2024, Kelvin Rydele Myles, also known as “D,” 49, of Charleston, sold approximately 2.9 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant while under a train trestle on Charleston’s West Side. As part of his guilty plea, Myles admitted that he conducted the transaction. Myles further admitted that he conducted multiple additional drug transactions. Myles sold approximately 3.28 grams of fentanyl on March 19, 2024, approximately 3.43 grams of fentanyl on March 22, 2024, and approximately 3.7 grams of fentanyl and 1.2 grams of cocaine on December 8, 2025. Each transaction occurred on Charleston’s West Side. Myles also sold approximately 5.1 grams of fentanyl on December 11, 2025, in South Charleston. All four transactions were with a confidential informant.
On May 3, 2024, Kristina Renea Clark, 37, of Charleston, sold approximately 3.49 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in the driveway of a residence on Charleston’s West Side. As part of her guilty plea, Clark admitted that she conducted the transaction after a co-conspirator arranged it beforehand. Clark also admitted to additional drug transactions. Clark sold approximately 3.45 grams of fentanyl on April 16, 2024, and approximately 3.48 grams of fentanyl on July 10, 2024. Both transactions occurred on Charleston’s West Side. Each was with a confidential informant and was arranged beforehand by a co-conspirator. On September 17, 2024, Clark worked with two co-conspirators to sell approximately 3.51 grams of fentanyl and 2.81 grams of crack to a confidential informant at a residence on Charleston’s West Side. Clark brought the crack and some of the fentanyl from her residence to complete the transaction after one of her co-conspirators did not have enough of the drugs the confidential informant wanted to purchase.
On October 7, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Clark’s residence on Charleston’s West Side and seized 3.62 kilograms of fentanyl, 562 grams of cocaine, and six firearms from Clark’s bedroom. As part of her guilty plea, Clark admitted that she possessed the seized drugs and intended to distribute them and possessed the seized firearms in connection with her drug distribution intentions.
On December 16, 2025, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop in Hurricane of a vehicle driven by Myles in which Clark was a passenger. Officers searched the vehicle during the traffic stop and seized two vacuum-sealed bags in the vehicle’s trunk that weighed approximately 760 grams and contained fentanyl. As part of their guilty pleas, Myles and Clark each admitted that they knew the fentanyl was in the trunk and that they intended to distribute it within the Southern District of West Virginia.
Myles and Clark each admitted to participating in the drug conspiracy between February and October 2024. They are among five defendants indicted by a federal grand jury following an investigation of drug trafficking in the Charleston area. The indictment remains pending against the other defendants. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Charleston Police Department-Special Enforcement Unit, and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department.
Reported by Kent Morlan
On March 14, 2024, Kelvin Rydele Myles, also known as “D,” 49, of Charleston, sold approximately 2.9 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant while under a train trestle on Charleston’s West Side. As part of his guilty plea, Myles admitted that he conducted the transaction. Myles further admitted that he conducted multiple additional drug transactions. Myles sold approximately 3.28 grams of fentanyl on March 19, 2024, approximately 3.43 grams of fentanyl on March 22, 2024, and approximately 3.7 grams of fentanyl and 1.2 grams of cocaine on December 8, 2025. Each transaction occurred on Charleston’s West Side. Myles also sold approximately 5.1 grams of fentanyl on December 11, 2025, in South Charleston. All four transactions were with a confidential informant.
On May 3, 2024, Kristina Renea Clark, 37, of Charleston, sold approximately 3.49 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in the driveway of a residence on Charleston’s West Side. As part of her guilty plea, Clark admitted that she conducted the transaction after a co-conspirator arranged it beforehand. Clark also admitted to additional drug transactions. Clark sold approximately 3.45 grams of fentanyl on April 16, 2024, and approximately 3.48 grams of fentanyl on July 10, 2024. Both transactions occurred on Charleston’s West Side. Each was with a confidential informant and was arranged beforehand by a co-conspirator. On September 17, 2024, Clark worked with two co-conspirators to sell approximately 3.51 grams of fentanyl and 2.81 grams of crack to a confidential informant at a residence on Charleston’s West Side. Clark brought the crack and some of the fentanyl from her residence to complete the transaction after one of her co-conspirators did not have enough of the drugs the confidential informant wanted to purchase.
On October 7, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Clark’s residence on Charleston’s West Side and seized 3.62 kilograms of fentanyl, 562 grams of cocaine, and six firearms from Clark’s bedroom. As part of her guilty plea, Clark admitted that she possessed the seized drugs and intended to distribute them and possessed the seized firearms in connection with her drug distribution intentions.
On December 16, 2025, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop in Hurricane of a vehicle driven by Myles in which Clark was a passenger. Officers searched the vehicle during the traffic stop and seized two vacuum-sealed bags in the vehicle’s trunk that weighed approximately 760 grams and contained fentanyl. As part of their guilty pleas, Myles and Clark each admitted that they knew the fentanyl was in the trunk and that they intended to distribute it within the Southern District of West Virginia.
Myles and Clark each admitted to participating in the drug conspiracy between February and October 2024. They are among five defendants indicted by a federal grand jury following an investigation of drug trafficking in the Charleston area. The indictment remains pending against the other defendants. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Charleston Police Department-Special Enforcement Unit, and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department.
Outcome:
The Defendants elected to plead guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced on October 29, 2026. Each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:
About This Case
What was the outcome of United States of America v. Kelvin Rydele Myles, also kno...?
The outcome was: The Defendants elected to plead guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced on October 29, 2026. Each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
Which court heard United States of America v. Kelvin Rydele Myles, also kno...?
This case was heard in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia (Kanawaha County), WV. The presiding judge was Irene C. Berger.
Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. Kelvin Rydele Myles, also kno...?
Plaintiff's attorney: Lesley Shamblin. Defendant's attorney: David Schles for Kelvin Rydele Myles Ray Franks for Kristina Renea Clark.
When was United States of America v. Kelvin Rydele Myles, also kno... decided?
This case was decided on July 17, 2026.