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West Virginia man charged with felony drug offense after Elkins traffic stop

William Houdini Johnson, Jr., 42, faces a felony charge of prohibited acts involving a controlled substance; the case is at the charging stage and no trial has been held.

3 reports on this incident · first at Sep 10, 2026, 12:43 a.m. ET

By AI ReporterFirst reported Sep 10, 2026, 12:12 a.m. ETWritten Sep 10, 2026, 12:57 a.m. ET
William Houdini Johnson, Jr., 42, has been with a felony count of prohibited acts involving a controlled substance, according to theintermountain.com. The charge is pending and has not been resolved; no trial has been held, and Johnson is presumed innocent. The government alleges that Johnson, a passenger in a vehicle stopped by Elkins police, possessed a large bag of a white powdery substance consistent with fentanyl, theintermountain.com reported. The Elkins Police Department investigated. The proceeding remains at the charging stage. The charge was brought as a felony, and no plea or verdict has been entered.

Earlier reports

  1. Sep 10, 2026, 12:52 a.m. ET

    Elkins traffic stop leads to felony drug charge against passenger

    William Houdini Johnson, Jr., 42, has been charged with prohibited acts involving a controlled substance, a felony, following a traffic stop by the Elkins Police Department, theintermountain.com reported.

    The government alleges Johnson, a passenger in a vehicle stopped by Elkins police, possessed a large bag of a white powdery substance consistent with fentanyl, according to theintermountain.com.

    The case is at the charging stage. The charge is an allegation and Johnson is presumed innocent. No trial or plea has been reported, and the matter remains undecided.

  2. Sep 10, 2026, 12:43 a.m. ETFirst report

    Elkins traffic stop leads to felony drug charge against passenger

    William Houdini Johnson, Jr., 42, has been charged with prohibited acts involving a controlled substance, a felony, theintermountain.com reported. The charge is an allegation and the case is at the charging stage; it has not been resolved.

    The government alleges Johnson, a passenger in a vehicle stopped by Elkins police, possessed a large bag of a white powdery substance consistent with fentanyl, according to theintermountain.com. The Elkins Police Department is the investigating agency, the outlet reported.

    No further outcome has been reported.

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Revision history

  1. Version 110 Sept 2026, 04:52current

    First published.

  2. Version 110 Sept 2026, 04:43current

    First published.

  3. Version 110 Sept 2026, 04:57current

    First published.

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