Toledo Man Sentenced For West Virginia Federal Drug Crimes
Wednesday, December 18, 2024, 6:30 P.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
HUNTINGTON, W.VA.- Today, December 18, 2024, Adrian Horton, also known as the “Big Guy” and the “Fat Boy,” 23, of Toledo, Ohio, appeared in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Robert C. Chambers to 63 months in federal prison, to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release for his previously entered guilty pleas.
Horton had previously appeared in the U.S. District Court and pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 40 Grams or More of Fentanyl; and Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine.
According To Court Documents
According to U.S. Attorney Will Thompson and documents filed with the District Court, on March 28, 2022, at the culmination of a narcotics distribution investigation, members of the Huntington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives executed a court-authorized search warrant at a Monroe Avenue residence in Huntington, West Virginia, where Horton was staying.
During the search, Detectives and Agents found and seized over 40 grams of fentanyl, an undetermined amount of crack cocaine, a Century 7.62x39mm semi-automatic firearm with a high-capacity magazine, a loaded Glock 17 9mm handgun. During Horton’s plea allocution, Horton admitted to possessing the seized narcotics and that he intended to distribute the substances. Horton further admitted to utilizing the Huntington residence to distribute various types of illicit drugs.
Horton also admitted that he possessed the firearms to protect his drugs and the proceeds from the narcotics sales and for protection during those drug sales. Horton admitted to distributing the drugs with a co-conspirator for several months prior to the March 28, 2022 search.
Horton also admitted that he aided and abetted the straw purchases of firearms on numerous occasions. Horton and his co-conspirator would give cash to their regular drug customers and then direct them to purchase firearms on their behalf. The straw purchasers falsely certified on the Federal Firearms Transaction Records Form 4473 that they were the buyers of the firearms when they actually knew they were purchasing them for Horton and his co-conspirator. Horton and his co-conspirator would then compensate the straw purchasers with drugs.
U.S. Attorney Thompson commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Huntington Police Department, which led to Horton’s successful prosecution and today’s prison sentence.
