CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A 27-year-old Parkersburg man is headed to federal prison after being caught with a heavy load of heroin and cocaine meant for the streets. Nathaniel Pittman was sentenced today to 24 months in federal custody after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute both heroin and cocaine, according to U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart.
The bust went down on July 7, 2016, when Wood County Sheriff’s Office deputies pulled over Pittman’s vehicle during a routine traffic stop. What started as a simple violation turned into a major drug seizure when officers found over 80 grams of heroin and more than 90 grams of cocaine stashed inside the car. Pittman didn’t fight the charges—he admitted on the spot that he intended to sell the narcotics.
Forensic testing confirmed the drugs were legit and in significant quantities, crossing thresholds that trigger stiff federal penalties. The case was handed to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which joined the Wood County Sheriff’s Office in building a solid case against Pittman, whose actions put him squarely in the crosshairs of federal drug enforcement.
U.S. Attorney Stuart made it clear: dealers won’t find safe harbor in West Virginia. “The citizens of Parkersburg are some of the finest folks in West Virginia,” Stuart said. “We won’t tolerate drug dealers in Parkersburg or anywhere in this district, and we will continue working to keep them off the streets and locked up for their crimes.”
Federal Judge Joseph R. Goodwin handed down the sentence, sealing Pittman’s fate after Assistant U.S. Attorney John Frail led the prosecution. The case falls under the Southern District of West Virginia’s broader crackdown on illegal drug networks, targeting not just users but suppliers fueling the opioid and cocaine crisis.
This prosecution is part of an ongoing push by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, working hand-in-hand with local and federal agencies, to dismantle drug trafficking rings, shut down open-air markets, and protect communities from the deadly spread of illicit substances. Pittman’s conviction sends a message: in West Virginia, moving weight means doing time.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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