Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Gun and Drug Charges

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Zanesville, Ohio man who possessed methamphetamine and a firearm in Huntington in 2017 pled guilty today to federal gun and drug charges, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Rico Rodriquez Allen, 43, entered his guilty pleas to possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.  Stuart praised the work of the Huntington Police Department.

“Yet another armed, out-of-state drug dealer caught peddling poisons in Huntington,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “And yet another armed, out-of-state drug dealer that my office has prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  It will be a long time before Allen has a chance to step foot in Huntington again.”

On September 16, 2017, an officer with the Huntington Police Department was dispatched to a 911 call of a man slumped over his steering wheel on a private driveway in Huntington.  When officers arrived, Allen refused to exit the vehicle.  As Allen was removed from the vehicle, a Glock 22 pistol fell from underneath Allen.  Officers then obtained a search warrant for the vehicle.  Officers recovered approximately 162 grams of methamphetamine from a void in the center console.  Officers also recovered approximately 100 baggies, two digital scales, and four telephones.

Allen faces not less than 5 years nor more than 40 years in federal prison for the drug charge, and a mandatory minimum consecutive term of at least 5 years in federal prison for the gun charge, when he is sentenced by United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers on September 17, 2018.  Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor is responsible for the prosecution.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

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