St. Albans Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Role In Marijuana Conspiracy

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Richard Hughes, 54, of St. Albans, W. Va. was sentenced today to 46 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release,  U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin announced.   Hughes previously pleaded guilty in January of 2014 to conspiracy to distribute marijuana.  Hughes admitted that from at least August of 2010 through February of 2012, he received marijuana from Robin Slater, a large-scale marijuana trafficker, and sold the marijuana throughout the Southern District of West Virginia.

Hughes made significant profits from the sale of marijuana and previously forfeited approximately $77,000 in cash and several thousand dollars’ worth of vehicles and equipment that he admitted were proceeds of drug distribution.

Slater previously pleaded guilty to several federal charges, including conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, and was sentenced to 35 years in prison. 

The West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Haley Bunn handled the prosecution. The sentenced was imposed by Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers in Huntington.