Charleston man pleads guilty to federal heroin charge

Charleston, W.Va. – United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today that Joshua Matthews, age 32, of Charleston, plead guilty today in federal court to distribution of heroin. Matthews admitted that on August 19, 2014, he sold heroin to a confidential informant working with the Charleston Police Department’s Special Enforcement Unit in exchange for $105.00. The drug deal took place on Capitol Street in downtown Charleston. Matthews faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a $1,000,000.00 fine when he is sentenced on July 29, 2015.

This case is being 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 heroin and 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 heroin and pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of opiate painkillers and heroin in communities across the Southern District.

The case was investigated by the Charleston Police Department’s Special Enforcement Unit.  The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney John Frail.