Ceredo Woman Sentenced For Role In Heroin Conspiracy

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Ceredo woman was sentenced today to 18 months in federal prison for her role in a heroin distribution conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin.  Helen Louise Adkins, 43, previously pleaded guilty in January 2014 to distribution of heroin before Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers in Huntington.

On  January 18, 2013, Adkins met with an undercover agent in the parking lot of a grocery store in Huntington and distributed approximately two grams of heroin.  As part of her plea agreement, Adkins admitted her involvement in a conspiracy with Bobby Nelson Gulley and Alanna Lynn Mattison that resulted in the transportation of heroin and oxycodone from Detroit, Michigan, to Huntington for distribution.  Between January and August 2013, Adkins rented an apartment located at 522 14th Street West, in Huntington, from which she permitted Gulley to conduct drug distributions.  Adkins also made heroin distributions at Gulley’s direction.    

In August 2013, agents executed search warrants at multiple locations tied to Gulley and Adkins, recovering over 140 grams of heroin, 974 oxycodone tablets and $12,000 in cash.  Gulley previously pleaded guilty in connection with his involvement in the conspiracy and was sentenced in May 2014 to 63 months in federal prison. 

The Drug Enforcement Administration and Huntington Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams handled the prosecution. 

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.