Detroit man pleads guilty to heroin charge

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today that Robert Lamar Payne, 31, of Detroit, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin with the intent to distribute.

Payne admitted that from 2012 to 2014, he conspired with other individuals to distribute heroin from Detroit in the Huntington area. He used an apartment in the 1000 block of 12^th Avenue in Huntington to store and distribute the heroin. On Feb. 13, 2014, agents with the Huntington Violent Crimes and Drug Task Force searched the apartment, recovering around 41 grams of heroin, two firearms and $2,411 in cash.

That same day, agents also searched a room at the Super 8 Motel on 16^th Street Road in Huntington. There, agents found Payne, and accomplice Derrick Goodwin, with more than 200 grams of heroin and $2,915 in cash. Payne and Derrick Goodwin stated they jointly possessed the heroin for the purpose of distribution.

Payne face up to 40 years in federal prison and a $5 million fine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 26, 2015.

Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the plea hearing.

The case is being investigated by the Huntington Violent Crimes and Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Adams is in charge of the prosecution.

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