Detroit man pleads guilty for role in heroin conspiracy

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Detroit man pleaded guilty today for his role in distributing heroin in 2013 and 2014, announced United States Attorney Carol Casto. Anthony D. Latham, 25, entered his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute heroin.

Between January 2013 and July 2014, Latham admitted that he conspired with other individuals to distribute heroin in the Point Pleasant area of Mason County. Latham further admitted that during the course of the conspiracy, he and others would frequently transport heroin from Columbus and Chillicothe to a residence in Gallipolis, where they would store and prepare it for distribution. Latham also admitted that members of the conspiracy would then distribute the heroin to customers in Gallipolis and to customers traveling from Point Pleasant. Latham additionally admitted that he and others also frequently traveled to Point Pleasant, where they used various residences to conduct distributions. Latham admitted that he was responsible for distributing up to 700 grams of heroin during the conspiracy. 

Latham faces up to 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on January 30, 2017.

The Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force, which includes the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and the Gallia-Meigs County, Ohio, Major Crimes Task Force, conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.

This prosecution was brought 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 and heroin. 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 and heroin in communities across the Southern District.

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