Raleigh County Woman Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime

BECKLEY, W.Va. – Athena Grizzle, 37, of Beckley, was sentenced today to eight months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing a quantity of heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 15, 2020, Grizzle sold a quantity of heroin to a confidential informant at a Shady Spring residence where she was staying. The West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory confirmed the controlled substance contained heroin and fentanyl.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit. The Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department.

United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Alex Hamner and Timothy D. Boggess prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-12.

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