Larry Gaynor, Heroin Trafficking, West Virginia 2017

A Charleston man was brought to justice for his role in the heroin trade, officials announced today. Larry Gaynor, 24, pleaded guilty to a federal drug charge, admitting to possession with intent to distribute heroin.

According to court documents, on October 26, 2016, Gaynor and another individual were pulled over in South Charleston. During the traffic stop, officers discovered approximately 100 grams of heroin, digital scales, baggies, and over $1,000 cash. Officers also discovered a 9mm handgun in Gaynor’s possession. Gaynor admitted that he intended to distribute the heroin.

Gaynor faces up to 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on September 6, 2017. The South Charleston Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Haley Bunn is handling the prosecution.

United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., is presiding over the case. This prosecution was brought 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 opiate painkillers and heroin in communities across the Southern District. This case was also brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods.

Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking existing local programs targeting gun crime. With this guilty plea, Gaynor is one step closer to facing the consequences of his actions. The investigation and prosecution of this case serve as a reminder of the devastating impact of heroin on our communities and the importance of continued efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.

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