Keith A. Watson, Aiding and Abetting Heroin Distribution, West Virginia 2014

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A local man has been sentenced to a decade behind bars for selling heroin that led to a fatal overdose in 2014.

Keith A. Watson, 36, of Martinsburg, was handed a binding 10-year prison sentence for his role in selling the deadly drug in Berkeley County, West Virginia.

According to prosecutors, in April 2014, Watson sold heroin to a 37-year-old man who later died from the overdose. Watson had previously pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the distribution of heroin in March 2015.

U.S. Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, praised the U.S. Attorney’s office for its commitment to aggressively pursuing drug dealers who cause harm to the community. ‘The U.S. Attorney’s office remains committed to the aggressive prosecution of drug dealers, particularly when the drugs sold cause the death of another,’ he said.

The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas, who worked closely with the Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, to investigate the case.

Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided over the sentencing hearing.

The case highlights the devastating consequences of heroin addiction and the importance of holding those responsible accountable for their actions.

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