Landlord Who Accepted Drugs As Rent Payments Sentenced To Nearly 4 Years In Federal Prison

Jerry Lowe leased a rental housing unit to Huntington pill dealers currently serving prison sentences for drug felonies

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington landlord who accepted illegal drugs as payment for monthly rent fees was sentenced today to three years and 10 months in prison on federal oxycodone charges, announced U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin.  Jerry A. Lowe, 46, previously pleaded guilty in March to distribution of oxycodone.  On March 16, 2012, Lowe sold three 30-milligram oxycodone tablets in exchange for $90.  Lowe previously leased a rental housing unit to convicted felons Rafael Cee-Erwin Solomon, 31, of Detroit and Shawna Danielle Lee, 26, of Huntington.  Lowe told police that he typically received heroin or prescription painkillers from Solomon and Lee as payment for monthly rent.  Lowe also purchased oxycodone pills from another resident at the Highlawn Avenue apartment complex.  In addition, Lowe sold at least 10 “Norco” brand oxycodone pills once a month.  Lowe sold the oxycodone pills for approximately two years. 

Solomon was previously sentenced in December 2012 to 11 years and three months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, oxycodone, and oxymorphone.  Danielle Lee was previously sentenced in September 2012 to one year and six months in federal prison for maintaining a residence for the purpose of distributing crack cocaine, cocaine, oxycodone and oxymorphone.
On June 13, 2012, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of Lowe’s vehicle.  During the stop, officers found Lowe in possession of 1.1 grams of heroin. 

The Huntington Violent Crimes and Drug Task Force conducted the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Gregory McVey handled the prosecution.  The sentence was imposed by Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers. 

This case was 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.  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 in communities across the Southern District.