Gallia man convicted on federal heroin charge

Gallia-Meigs Task Force participated in investigation

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Gallia County man has been convicted on federal drug charges.

Earnest Moore, 40, of Gallia County, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin. Moore entered the plea on the federal drug charge according to United States Attorney Carol Casto.

From early 2013 until his arrest on July 23, 2014, Moore admitted that he conspired with others to distribute heroin in the Point Pleasant area of Mason County. During the conspiracy, associates of Moore would frequently transport heroin from Detroit and Columbus to a residence in Gallipolis, where they would store and prepare the drugs for distribution. Members of the conspiracy would then distribute the heroin to customers in Gallipolis and to customers who traveled from Point Pleasant. Moore and others also frequently traveled to Point Pleasant where they used various residences to distribute the drugs. Moore faces up to 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on May 30, 2017.

The Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force, which includes the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and the Gallia-Meigs Major Crimes Task Force, conducted the investigation of Moore. The plea hearing was held before Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.

These case 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.