Ohio Woman Amanda Elaine Wright Sentenced in Heroin Ring

Amanda Elaine Wright, 31, of East Liverpool, Ohio, was sentenced today to 30 months in federal prison for her role in a heroin distribution ring that pushed poison into Hancock County, West Virginia. The hard-hitting bust marks another blow against the out-of-state traffickers exploiting the region’s vulnerabilities, according to federal prosecutors.

Wright admitted in court to conspiring with others to possess and distribute heroin across county lines, feeding addiction and fueling crime in communities already strained by the opioid crisis. She pled guilty to one count of ‘Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Heroin,’ a charge that carries severe penalties under federal law.

Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen confirmed the sentencing, underscoring the Department of Justice’s relentless push to dismantle drug networks operating in West Virginia. ‘This is not just about punishment,’ Jividen stated. ‘It’s about stopping the pipeline of deadly drugs before they reach our streets.’

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen L. Vogrin, who laid out evidence of Wright’s active participation in the conspiracy. Coordination with local and federal task forces revealed a pattern of repeated distribution, with Wright playing a key logistical role in moving heroin from Ohio into West Virginia neighborhoods.

Investigation was led by the Hancock, Brooke, Weirton Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force — a HIDTA-funded initiative designed to combat narcotics trafficking with enhanced intelligence and interagency muscle. Their work led to multiple arrests and the seizure of drugs, cash, and distribution tools tied to the operation.

Sentencing was handed down by Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr., who emphasized the destructive consequences of heroin trafficking. Wright will serve 30 months under federal lockup, followed by supervised release. Authorities warn that others involved in similar schemes should expect no leniency as crackdowns intensify across the tri-state corridor.