HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The heroin pipeline flowing into Huntington took a hit today as two key players admitted their roles in a multi-year drug conspiracy. Derrick C. Morris, 27, of Detroit, and Dorothy D. Pannell, 23, of Huntington, both pleaded guilty to federal drug charges stemming from their involvement in distributing the deadly opioid between 2014 and 2016.
According to court documents, Morris spearheaded a scheme to transport heroin from Detroit to Huntington, raking in profits and funneling cash back north. From November 2014 to June 8, 2016, he acted as a central hub, receiving shipments and distributing the drugs throughout the city. Investigators identified two locations used for distribution: 1922 7th Avenue and 612 Trenton Place. Raids on these properties yielded both heroin and firearms, signaling the dangerous intersection of drugs and violence. Morris confessed to being responsible for the distribution of up to three kilograms of heroin.
Pannell’s role, while shorter in duration, was crucial to the operation. Between April and May of 2016, she allowed an accomplice to stash heroin in her residence at 729 Oxford Drive. She didn’t just provide storage; she actively facilitated the distribution, permitting the individual to retrieve the drugs for street-level sales. A search warrant executed on May 23, 2016, uncovered approximately 85 grams of heroin and three firearms within her home, cementing her complicity.
The bust is the result of a sustained investigation by the Huntington FBI Drug Task Force. Federal prosecutors are now preparing for sentencing, where Morris faces a minimum of five years and up to 40 years behind bars for his conviction on conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. Pannell, convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin, could receive up to 20 years in federal prison. Both are scheduled to appear before Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers on August 21, 2017.
“This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to dismantling heroin networks that prey on the citizens of West Virginia,” stated United States Attorney Carol Casto. “We will continue to work tirelessly with our federal, state, and local partners to stem the flow of these deadly drugs into our communities.”
The Southern District of West Virginia, plagued by the opioid crisis, is under intense pressure to curb drug trafficking. This prosecution is part of a broader initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office to target illegal pill trafficking, eradicate open-air drug markets, and ultimately, break the grip of opiate addiction on the region. Follow updates on this case and other federal investigations at @SDWVNews on Twitter.
Related Federal Cases
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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