Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin Distribution in Huntington Overdose Spree

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The grim landscape of Huntington’s streets saw justice served as Ohio man Bruce Lamar Griggs, also known as “Ben” and “Benz,” 22, from Akron, pleaded guilty to the distribution of heroin that triggered a deadly overdose spree in August 2016.

Griggs’ actions on the afternoon of August 15, 2016, at 914 Marcum Terrace, Huntington, resulted in numerous overdoses. Those affected provided critical information to the Huntington FBI Drug Task Force, identifying Griggs as their dealer, known as “Benz” or “Ben.” The task force’s diligent work led to a string of evidence that revealed the presence of deadly drugs – heroin, fentanyl, and carfentanil, an opioid 10,000 times stronger than morphine, typically used for tranquilizing elephants.

Griggs’ admission of guilt was a stark acknowledgment of the tragedy he unleashed. His plea agreement included sentencing enhancements as a direct result of his actions. The defendant now faces up to 20 years in federal prison when sentenced on April 10, 2017.

The Huntington FBI Drug Task Force took the lead in this investigation, with Assistant United States Attorney R. Gregory McVey spearheading the prosecution. Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers oversaw the plea hearing, ensuring that justice was served according to the law.

This case is a part of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia’s relentless battle against prescription drug misuse and the illegal sale of heroin. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, are committed to dismantling pill trafficking rings, eradicating open-air drug markets, and curbing the opiate crisis that plagues communities across the Southern District.

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