Huntington Man Pleads Guilty To Federal Narcotics Offense

Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 10:30 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

HUNTINGTON, W.VA.- A 44-year-old Huntington, West Virginia, man is facing up to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty on Monday to possessing and distributing heroin within the Huntington, West Virginia, area.

     On Monday, April 28, 2025, Robert Lee Taylor, 44, of Huntington, West Virginia, appeared in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Robert C. Chambers to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Heroin.

     Following entering his guilty plea, Judge Chambers accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for August 11, 2025. At that time, Taylor faces up to 20 years in federal prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. At sentencing, a U.S. District Court Judge will determine the term of imprisonment based on the seriousness of the offense and Taylor’s prior criminal history.

According To The U.S. Attorney’s Office

     According to Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston and charging documents filed with the District Court, on March 19, 2025, during an ongoing illicit narcotics investigation, federal law enforcement agents obtained consent to search a Huntington, West Virginia residence and located around 104 grams of heroin, three digital scales, and packaging materials for packaging the heroin in a storage tote on the back deck of the residence.

     During his plea allocution on Monday, Taylor admitted that he possessed the seized heroin and that he intended to distribute it. Taylor further admitted to selling around 7 grams of heroin to a confidential informant for $491 on the back deck of the Huntington residence the day before the consent search.

     On March 19, 2025, federal agents obtained and executed a court-authorized search warrant at Taylor’s Huntington home. During the search, federal agents seized $8,661 in cash in denominations consistent with street-level narcotics distribution. Taylor further admitted on Monday that the seized money was proceeds from heroin sales.

     Acting U.S. Attorney Johnston commended the investigative work of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force.