Huntington Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Heroin Charge

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington woman caught selling heroin earlier this year pled guilty today to a federal drug charge, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Shirley Lacieann Burlile, 27, entered a guilty plea to distributing heroin in federal court in Huntington.  Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the Huntington FBI Drug Task Force and the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department.

“Since my first day in office as United States Attorney, I have made Huntington a priority,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “We have increased our prosecutorial resources in Huntington to focus on drug traffickers and violent offenders and have significantly increased the number of defendants prosecuted for such crimes.  We’re succeeding – not winning yet – and there is no doubt Huntington is a safer city today than the day I took over as United States Attorney.”

On April 4, 2018, a confidential informant contacted Burlile and another individual to arrange a purchase of heroin.  During the telephone call, the informant was directed to come to Burlile’s residence located at 4260 U.S. Route 60, Apartment 7 in Huntington.  Shortly after, Burlile and the other individual met with the informant inside the residence and Burlile distributed heroin to the informant.

During the plea hearing, Burlile admitted that, from at least November 2017 to April 2018, she conspired with others to distribute heroin in the Huntington area.  Burlile also admitted to conducting another heroin deal on April 11, 2018, in Huntington.  Burlile admitted that she was responsible for the distribution of up to 100 grams of heroin during her participation in the conspiracy. 

Burlile faces up to 20 years in federal prison when she is sentenced on March 4, 2019. 

Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecution.  The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.

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