Detroit Man Pleads Guilty To Cocaine Distribution

Emanuel Louis Harris, 44, of Detroit, Michigan, also known as ‘Forty,’ has pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine in federal court in Huntington, West Virginia. Harris faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a $1 million fine when he is sentenced on September 2, 2014.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney Booth Goodwin. In January 2014, police found Harris at a residence on Division Street in Huntington with approximately 17.3 grams of cocaine powder. Harris was attempting to flush about an ounce of heroin down the toilet when police entered the house.

Police also used a confidential informant to buy prescription pills from Harris on three separate occasions in 2012. The case is being prosecuted 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 opioid painkillers and heroin in communities across the Southern District.

United States District Court Chief Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Harris is set to be sentenced on September 2, 2014, and could face up to 20 years imprisonment and a $1 million fine.

The investigation into Harris’ activities was a collaborative effort between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The case highlights the ongoing struggle against drug trafficking in the region.

The guilty plea marks another victory in the fight against drug-related crime in the Southern District of West Virginia. As the U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to work towards eliminating open air drug markets and reducing the spread of opioid painkillers and heroin, citizens are reminded to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

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