Detroit Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Gun Crimes

 HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Detroit, Michigan man was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison today for drug and gun crimes.  Darryl Eric Hill, 37, previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.   

According to court documents, Hill rented a room at the Double Tree Hotel in Huntington on October 21, 2020 and was present when law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the room.  Officers seized heroin, methamphetamine, crack cocaine, over $19,000 and a loaded 9mm pistol which Hill possessed.  Hill admitted that he had stayed at the hotel for several weeks and that he had been selling the drugs in and around the Huntington area.  Hill also admitted that he kept the firearm with him to protect himself based on his status as a drug dealer.   

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Huntington Police Department.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence.  Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams 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.