Pubdate: Wed, 04 Aug 2010
Source: Herald-Dispatch, The (Huntington, WV)
Copyright: 2010 The Herald-Dispatch
Contact:  http://www.hdonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1454
Author: Curtis Johnson

PROSECUTOR TARGETS CITY DRUG MARKET

HUNTINGTON -- New U.S. Attorney R. Booth Goodwin pledged he will 
contribute and gather additional resources to help Huntington fight 
what he called an unfortunate reputation as the region's hub for drug 
trafficking.

Goodwin, confirmed as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of West 
Virginia in May, praised area law enforcement, prosecutors and 
community leaders for making great strides in the battle thus far. 
Now he plans to join in the fight as a partner -- not a white knight 
- -- and make Huntington's drug problem the focus of his administration.

During a Wednesday morning meeting with The Herald-Dispatch editorial 
board, he vowed to assign more prosecutors to what he anticipates 
will be a growing number of drug prosecutions.

The added effort also will include cooperation from the West Virginia 
National Guard. Goodwin said his office has entered into an agreement 
with the National Guard for one of its members to be housed in the 
U.S. Attorney's Office. That guard member's mission will be to pool 
and analyze intelligence information. His efforts will aid Goodwin 
and his assistants in deciding which cases should be prosecuted in 
federal court.

Goodwin said his predecessors had used National Guard resources on 
more of an as-needed basis.

"We need to turn that tide, that perception," he said of Huntington's 
reputation. "In sending the message back to points outside of this 
district, 'If you come here, it's not worth it. If you come here to 
peddle your drugs, it's not going to be worth it.' That's what I'm 
committed to."

The Ripley, W.Va., previously had served as an assistant in the 
Southern District office since January 2001.

Goodwin was joined Wednesday by his special advisor, Assistant U.S. 
Attorney Steve Ruby. Both acknowledged crime problems in other areas 
of the district, but they regard Huntington's as particularly serious.

"We are committed to prosecuting more cases in Huntington," Ruby 
said. "We're going to devote more prosecutor time, more prosecutor 
resources to produce a significant increase in the number of cases."

Goodwin said he hopes those results will attract additional resources 
from other federal agencies, such as the FBI, Drug Enforcement 
Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

"If we can demonstrate that we have a plan, that we're executing that 
plan well, the resources will come," he said.

Ruby and Goodwin said Huntington's drug market brings addicts from 
the same areas as the city's legitimate retailers, hospitals and 
entertainment venues attract customers. Those addicts increase demand 
to such a high level that it attracts drug supplies from Detroit, 
central Ohio and Florida. They said drugs of choice remain OxyContin 
and other prescription medicines, along with crack cocaine, marijuana 
and heroin.

In regard to prescription drug abuse, Goodwin said he remains 
committed to prosecuting doctors who authorize illegitimate 
prescriptions. He expressed satisfaction with a strategy aimed at 
targeting doctors for misuse of their DEA numbers. He said that is a 
more efficient way to secure convictions that deter doctors from such 
criminal activity.

Goodwin said fighting back requires law enforcement and prosecutorial 
action, but it also requires significant community involvement.

"One thing that can't continue is apathy," he said.

Goodwin's strategy will include ways for the community to get 
involved. He said the best first step is for community members to 
call police if they suspect drug activity. Any less participation 
leaves the community member no room to gripe, Goodwin said.

"Everybody has a piece of this," he said. "The police can't be 
everywhere at all times."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart