HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - A Detroit man was sentenced yesterday to three years in federal prison for his role in a heroin distribution scheme in Huntington, announced U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin. Rodney Lee Flowers, also known as “Anthony Phillip Hollis," 48, previously pleaded guilty in September to possession of heroin with the intent to distribute. Flowers was charged in a one-count indictment in April.
In early March 2013, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) received information that Flowers and several of his associates were distributing heroin from a residence located on Washington Avenue in Huntington. During an investigation, agents discovered that Flowers and his associates were expecting a package containing heroin by mail from Michigan. On April 3, 2013, an undercover agent delivered the package to 2200 ½ Washington Avenue in Huntington. Rodney Flowers answered the front door at the residence and accepted the package. A short time later, Flowers and an associate exited the residence and got inside of a vehicle. Police later conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. Flowers was arrested and taken to the Huntington Police Department for processing. The defendant provided a Mirandized statement to police regarding his involvement in the heroin distribution scheme. Flowers told police that he was expecting a package by mail from Michigan that contained approximately 225 grams of heroin.
Agents executed a search warrant on the defendant’s Washington Avenue residence and recovered the package that contained 226.8 grams of heroin.
The DEA, the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Huntington Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory McVey handled the prosecution. The sentence was imposed by Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
