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Press Release

Michigan Man Gets Federal Prison Time For Heroin Possession

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of West Virginia


HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin announced that a Michigan man was sentenced on June 17 to one year and four months in federal prison for aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute heroin. Ralph Oliver Mayes, Jr., 37, of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, previously pleaded guilty in March.  The sentence was handed down by Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers. 

On January 9, 2013, officers with the Barboursville Police Department arrested Mayes for obstructing and possession of Vicodin tablets.  Following his arrest, Mayes was transported to the Barboursville Police Department.  During a custodial search of the defendant, police found two bags containing 33 individually wrapped bags of a substance that field tested positive for heroin.  Each bag contained approximately .1 gram of heroin.  Mayes told police that he intended to sell the heroin.   

The Barboursville Police Department and the Huntington Violent Crimes and Drug Task Force conducted the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Gregory McVey handled the prosecution. 

Updated January 7, 2015