FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 16, 2012
HUNTINGTON MAN SENTENCED TO SIX AND A HALF YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR OXYCODONE DISTRIBUTION
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin today announced that a Huntington man was sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison for illegally distributing prescription drugs. Jacob Hatfield, 26, of Huntington, previously pleaded guilty in March to aiding and abetting the distribution of a quantity of oxymorphone, also known as “Opana.” Hatfield admitted that on November 18, 2011, he sold 25 Opana pills to a Caleb Barrett in exchange for $1250. The defendant further admitted that he was aware that Barrett intended to further distribute the pills to a third individual, who was actually a confidential informant with the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT). Following the illegal drug transaction, the defendant was approached by officers. Hatfield provided consent for law enforcement to search his person and vehicle. Officers located a backpack inside the defendant’s vehicle which contained 1185 40-milligram oxymorphone pills, 865 30-milligram oxycodone pills, and 12 and 1/2 80-milligram oxycodone pills. In addition, officers found 15 40-milligram oxymorphone pills, 30 30-milligram oxycodone pills, and two suboxone pills on defendant's person. In addition to the pills, officers found $33,165 on Hatfield's person and inside of his backpack which Hatfield admitted was drug proceeds.
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.
The Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman handled the prosecution. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the sentencing.
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