Huntington Drug Dealer Sentenced to Prison for Federal Crime

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man caught with heroin in August 2017 was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for a federal drug crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Joseph Mitchell, 44, previously pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin.  Stuart praised the efforts of the Marshall University Office of Public Safety and the FBI Huntington Safe Streets Task Force.

“Heroin dealers have run rampant in Huntington for far too long,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “My office, along with our law enforcement partners, will use every tool in our arsenal to send drug dealers to prison.”

On August 2, 2017, an officer with the Marshall University Office of Public Safety conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by the defendant in the 500 block of 20th Street in Huntington.  Upon searching the vehicle, the officer discovered approximately 11.5 grams of suspected heroin and a digital scale.  As part of the plea agreement, Mitchell admitted that he intended to sell the heroin.  Mitchell also admitted to the other drug activity charged in the indictment.

Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor handled the prosecution.  United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence.

This case is being prosecuted as part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illicit sale and misuse of prescription drugs and heroin. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down illegal pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of opiate painkillers and heroin in communities across the Southern District.