Morgantown woman admits to heroin distribution

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Lori Murphy, of Morgantown, West Virginia, has admitted to heroin trafficking, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Murphy, age 29, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Heroin within 1000 feet of Protected Location.” Murphy admitted to distributing heroin near North Elementary School in April of 2017 in Monongalia County. 

Murphy faces up to 40 years incarceration and a fine of up to $2,000,000. 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 case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Mon Metro Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.