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November 30, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Morgantown Resident Sentenced on Crack Cocaine Charge

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA — A 42 year old Morgantown, West Virginia, resident was sentenced on November 23, 2010, in United States District Court in Clarksburg by Judge Irene M. Keeley.

United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced that: NEAL HICKENBOTTOM was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. HICKENBOTTOM entered a plea of guilty on April 26, 2010, to one count of an Indictment charging him with the distribution of crack cocaine on April 26, 2010, in Morgantown.

The FBI, the DEA, Mon Valley Drug Task Force, and the West Virginia State Police conducted a year long investigation between the Fall of 2008 and 2009, into a crack cocaine group distributing in the Morgantown, West Virginia area, particularly from Marjorie Gardens. During the investigation multiple controlled buys from various members of the group, as well as searches incident to arrests and traffic stops, and interviews of historical dealings. Essentially the investigation showed the group was comprised of friends and family of Hickenbottom, who distributed from his home from his wheelchair, often times providing co-defendants and others with drugs, for their distribution activities. As part of his plea, HICKENBOTTOM acknowledged his involvement with the distribution of 125 grams of crack cocaine. Based on his medical issues, the Court ordered HICKENBOTTOM to self-report on January 14, 2011, to the designated Federal institution.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John C. Parr.