By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
A St. Joseph man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute heroin in the St. Joseph area.
50-year-old Harvey E Johnson has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Johnson to forfeit $43,200 to the government which represents the money from illegally trafficking drugs.
Johnson pleaded guilty in August of 2021 to participating in the conspiracy to distribute heroin in the St. Joseph area between September of 2019 and March of 2021.
Johnson was in possession of approximately 51 grams of heroin when he was arrested in March of 2021 after fleeing from law enforcement officers in a high-speed car chase. Reports state Johnson was responsible for distributing at least 2,835 kilograms of heroin.
Johnson was on state parole following his conviction on drug charges during his involvement in the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Co-defendant 50-year-old Roderick A. Hughes, also of St. Joseph, was sentenced earlier this month.