Detroit Man Rasheed T. Latham Gets Prison in Heroin Conspiracy

A Detroit man tied to a tightly organized heroin ring that pumped drugs into southern West Virginia has been locked up for nearly four years. Rasheed T. Latham, 28, was sentenced today to three years and 10 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin, announced United States Attorney Carol Casto.

Latham’s role in the drug network ran from March to July 2014, when he and associates funneled heroin from Columbus and Chillicothe, Ohio, into the Point Pleasant area of Mason County. The operation relied on a Gallipolis, Ohio, residence as a stash house where the drugs were stored and readied for street-level sale. From there, the crew moved product to buyers in Gallipolis and to customers who made the trip from Point Pleasant.

Latham wasn’t just a middleman—he was boots on the ground. He regularly crossed state lines, using multiple residences in Point Pleasant to distribute heroin directly to users and lower-level dealers. The flow of drugs created a steady stream of addiction and chaos in a region already reeling from the opioid crisis.

The Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force led the investigation, with critical support from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and the Gallia-Meigs County, Ohio, Major Crimes Task Force. The probe peeled back layers of the operation, revealing a network that exploited rural vulnerabilities and interstate routes to maintain supply.

Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams prosecuted the case, which culminated in sentencing by Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers. The 46-month prison term reflects the seriousness of the conspiracy and the federal push to dismantle regional drug pipelines.

This prosecution is part of a broader crackdown by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia targeting the illicit sale and misuse of heroin and prescription opioids. Working alongside federal, state, and local agencies, prosecutors are focused on shutting down trafficking cells, erasing open-air markets, and stopping the flood of deadly narcotics into struggling communities.