Detroit Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Gun Crimes

 HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced that Darelle Devon Boynton, 35, of Detroit, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for distribution of heroin and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

“This dangerous Detroit drug dealer will be spending nearly six years in federal prison,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Boynton, who has multiple felony convictions in Michigan, won’t be jeopardizing public safety in Huntington or Detroit any time soon.”  

Boynton previously pled guilty and admitted that on January 30, 2020, he  sold 8.47 grams of heroin to a person working as a confidential informant. The sale took place in a car outside 2005 10th Avenue in Huntington, West Virginia.  Boynton also admitted that on February 13, 2020, he possessed a Glock Model 19, 9mm pistol while inside a bar called “Tamika’s,” formerly known as the “Copa,” located at 2005 10th Avenue in Huntington. Boynton has prior felony convictions in Michigan including armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a felon, and fleeing from a police officer. Because of those convictions, he was prohibited from possessing the firearm. Police searched Boynton’s house located at 199 Davis Street in Huntington and found approximately 35.13 grams of heroin in his bedroom which he intended to sell.  Boynton also sold approximately 1.75 grams of heroin for $100 to the same confidential informant on January 23, 2020.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Huntington Police Department conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Greg McVey handled the prosecution.

This case was prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:20-cr-00038.