Multiple defendants headed to prison for Federal heroin crimes

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Three defendants were sentenced to federal prison today for heroin crimes, announced Acting United States Attorney Carol Casto. Eddie William Randall, 36, of Detroit, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Krishauna Deshay Brown, 37, of Huntington, was sentenced to a year and three months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin. In a separate drug prosecution, Terrance Donte Hensley, 20, of Huntington, was sentenced to three years and a month in federal prison for distribution of heroin.

From December 2014 until their arrests in 2015, Randall, Brown, and others conspired to distribute heroin that was transported from Detroit to the Huntington area. Brown resided at 209 West 9th Avenue in Huntington, and she allowed Randall to store and distribute heroin from her residence. On February 26, 2015, officers with the Huntington FBI Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at Brown’s residence and seized heroin, along with other paraphernalia used to sell heroin. Brown admitted that she possessed the heroin at her residence and intended to distribute it.

On June 25, 2015, officers executed search warrants at 2736 Rear 4th Avenue and 1128 25th Street in Huntington. Officers utilized a confidential informant to make several controlled purchases of heroin from Randall in and around those residences leading up to the search. Officers located Randall inside the 4th Avenue residence and seized approximately 40 grams of heroin, a loaded 9mm pistol, and $13,030 in cash. During the search of the 25th Street residence, officers seized approximately 280 grams of heroin and a loaded .45 caliber pistol. Randall admitted that he possessed the heroin from both residences for distribution and that he possessed the pistols in an effort to protect himself from theft or robbery of heroin or cash.

As the result of a separate drug investigation, Terrance Donte Hensley admitted that on five occasions between June 26 and July 9, 2015, he distributed heroin at various locations in Hurricane and Huntington to a confidential informant working with law enforcement.  

The investigation of Brown and Randall was conducted by the Huntington FBI Drug Task Force, the Huntington Police Department, and the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is responsible for the prosecutions of Brown and Randall. The investigation of Hensley was conducted by the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team, the Huntington Police Department, and the DEA Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald is in charge of the prosecution of Hensley. Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentences. 

These cases are 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. 

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