R. Booth Goodwin II, United States Attorney
Southern District of West Virginia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Melvin Smith
June 27, 2011 melvin.smith@usdoj.gov
TWO FORMER WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS EMPLOYEES PLEAD GUILTY TO FEDERAL DRUG DISTRIBUTION CHARGES
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Two former state Division of Highways (DOH) employees pleaded guilty today in federal court before United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. to drug distribution charges. Larry Holstein, 44, and Grant McGuire II, 49, both of Kanawha County, pleaded guilty to distribution of a quantity of hydrocodone. Holstein admitted that on March 12,2010, he sold six Lortab tablets to a confidential informant working with the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) in exchange for $40. Holstein further admitted that he and the informant traveled to a residence located near East Bank, Kanawha County, to complete the drug transaction. McGuire admitted that on March 23,2010, he sold six Lortab tablets to an informant in exchange for $40. McGuire further admitted that the transaction took place at a Division of Highways garage located in Chelyan, Kanawha County. All of the tablets were submitted to the West Virginia State Police lab and proved to contain hydrocodone.
Holstein and McGuire each face up to 10 years in prison and a $500,000 fine when they are sentenced on September 28, 2011.
The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT). Assistant United States Attorney John Frail is in charge of the prosecution.
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