Huntington Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Heroin Charge

Huntington, W.Va. — Tonya Lynn Thompson, 36, admitted in federal court today to selling heroin to an informant last year, capping a probe that uncovered a stash of fentanyl and methamphetamine at her home. The guilty plea, entered before U.S. District Judge Robert C. Chambers, marks another strike in the federal crackdown on the opioid crisis gripping West Virginia.

On July 11, 2018, a confidential informant working under the direction of the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department walked into Thompson’s residence at 831 15th Street and handed over $140 for a supply of heroin. That deal, recorded and verified by law enforcement, became a cornerstone of the investigation. As part of her plea agreement, Thompson also admitted helping facilitate the sale of fentanyl at the same location one day earlier.

Just five days after the heroin sale, on July 16, 2018, deputies executed a search warrant at the 15th Street home. Inside, they seized approximately 12 grams of fentanyl — a synthetic opioid up to 50 times more potent than heroin — and nearly 48 grams of methamphetamine. The quantities, given their potency and street value, signaled Thompson’s role as more than a casual user.

In her sworn admissions, Thompson acknowledged distributing heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine in Huntington from July 2017 through July 2018. She further admitted allowing individuals to use her residence as a hub for storing and selling narcotics — effectively turning her home into a known drug operation site.

U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart didn’t mince words when addressing the case: “Deadly and powerful fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine. Too many drug dealers like Thompson have peddled their poisons in Huntington. We’re doing our best to hold drug dealers accountable.” The FBI Drug Task Force and Cabell County Sheriff’s Department led the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph F. Adams prosecuting.

Thompson now faces up to 20 years in federal prison when she’s sentenced on August 5, 2019. The case underscores the federal government’s aggressive pursuit of mid-level traffickers feeding the addiction epidemic in hard-hit communities like Huntington, where overdose rates continue to climb despite ongoing law enforcement efforts.

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