Huntington Heroin Dealer Enters Guilty Plea In Federal Court

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man pleaded guilty on Nov. 4 in federal court in connection with his role in a heroin distribution conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin.  Forty-nine-year-old Ricky Ray Rockwell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin before Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers in Huntington.  

Between November 2010 and July 2011, Rockwell participated with convicted felons Kevin Luthor Robinson and Jermaine D. Dickerson to distribute heroin in and around the Huntington area. 

Rockwell told police that during the illegal drug scheme, he controlled the door to a Huntington residence that was used primarily as a place to distribute illegal drugs.  Rockwell also completed illegal heroin transactions on behalf of Robinson and Dickerson.  Afterward, Rockwell gave the drug proceeds to his co-conspirators at the completion of the drug transactions.   

Robinson, 44, was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison in March for his role in the illegal drug conspiracy.  Dickerson, 36, was also sentenced in March to 15 years and nine months in federal prison.  Robinson and Dickerson, both of Columbus, previously pleaded guilty in December 2012 to conspiracy to distribute heroin and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine.  

During the scheme, Robinson and Dickerson arranged frequent trips to Columbus to purchase heroin and cocaine.  The illegal drugs were then brought to Huntington and sold.  The defendants also utilized several Huntington residences to store, prepare and package illegal drugs during the fall of 2010 through July 2011. 

Rockwell faces up to 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on February 24, 2014.

This case was investigated by the DEA, the Huntington Police Department, and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.  Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is in charge of the prosecution.