CHARLESTON, WV—United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today that David Himes, 29, of Cincinnati, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison.

In March 2013, Himes pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting robbery affecting interstate commerce. He admitted that on May 21, 2012, he, Robert Barcliff and Joe Croft carried out an armed home-invasion robbery of a drug dealer believed to have high-quality marijuana or drug proceeds in South Charleston. Himes stated he entered the apartment with a firearm to conduct the robbery.

Croft has pleaded guilty to charges related to this investigation and awaits sentencing in February. Barcliff was recently sentenced to 16 years in federal prison.

Beginning in the fall of 2011, Himes was part of a group that conspired and agreed to commit armed home-invasion robberies of drug dealers in West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. The objective of the conspiracy and robberies was to steal drugs, drug proceeds and firearms. The group targeted drug dealers because they believed the dealers were not likely to call the police.

United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, South Charleston Police Department and Charleston Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman handled the prosecution.