Johnstown Heroin Dealer Godboat Faces Decades Behind Bars

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A Johnstown man is looking at serious time after admitting to peddling heroin on the streets of western Pennsylvania. **Vantroy Godboat**, 45, pleaded guilty in federal court this week, ending a case built by federal and local law enforcement.

According to court records, Godboat distributed less than 100 grams of heroin on three separate dates in January and February of 2016 – January 27th, February 2nd, and February 4th. The dealing didn’t stop there. On February 5th, 2016, authorities found Godboat in possession of heroin with the clear intent to distribute it further. The investigation, a joint effort between the Laurel Highlands Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cambria County Drug Task Force, has finally reached a conclusion with this guilty plea.

The case was presented before United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson, who will ultimately determine Godboat’s fate. While the law allows for a maximum sentence of 80 years in prison and a staggering $4,000,000 fine, the actual sentence will be determined by Federal Sentencing Guidelines, factoring in the severity of the crimes and Godboat’s potential criminal history.

Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie L. Haines is prosecuting the case, and will be recommending a sentence based on the evidence gathered during the investigation. Sources inside the USAO tell Grimy Times that the prosecution is likely to push for a substantial sentence, given the ongoing opioid crisis plaguing communities across the nation.

Godboat is scheduled to be sentenced on February 27, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. He remains free on bond until that date. This case serves as a stark reminder that federal authorities are actively targeting drug traffickers in Pennsylvania, and those caught dealing poison on the streets will face the full weight of the law.

Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as they become available. This conviction is another small victory in the long, uphill battle against the relentless flow of heroin into our communities.