Boone County Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Charge

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Boone County woman entered a guilty plea to a federal drug charge, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Karen Kay Runion, 33, of Racine, pled guilty to distribution of heroin.    Stuart commended the investigation conducted by the U.S. 119 Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.

“This defendant has a sad history,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Drug dealers are vipers feeding on the very fiber of our people and communities. We have a sense of urgency to relocate every dealer from our streets to a federal pen.”

In November of 2017, Runion sold heroin in Racine, West Virginia, including to a cooperating individual with the U.S. 119 Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.  Runion admitted during her plea hearing that she had been distributing heroin for several years.  Runion was previously convicted in 2013 in Boone County, West Virginia for the felony offense of Exposure of Children to Methamphetamine Manufacturing.  

Runion faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on April 30, 2019.

Assistant United States Attorney L. Alexander Hamner handled the prosecution.  United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the plea hearing..

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