Harrison County residents admit to role in methamphetamine distribution operation

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Byron Higginbotham and Erica Herron, both of Clarksburg, West Virginia, have admitted to their roles in a methamphetamine distribution operation, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
 
Higginbotham, age 36, pled guilty to one count of “Possession of Unregistered Firearm.” Higginbotham admitted to having an unregistered .20 caliber sawed-off shotgun in March 2018 in Harrison County.

Erica Herron, age 38, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine.” Herron admitted to selling methamphetamine in September 2017 in Harrison County.

Higginbotham faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Herron faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Greater Harrison Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. The United States Marshal Service assisted.

The investigation was funded in part by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.