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 as well as illegally possessing firearms.
Federal prosecutors report 48-year-old Roderick A. Hughes was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison with no parole after pleading guilty on May 27, 2022.
Hughes pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin in the St. Joseph Area between September 2019 to March 2021 and to possessing a firearm.
Reports say Hughes is responsible for distributing at least 461.9 grams of heroin, which is over 4,600 potentially lethal, 0.1-gram “doses” of the drug. Officers executed a search warrant of Hughes' home in February 2021.
Officers during the search found a gun on the kitchen table as well as in the nightstand, and also a safe containing heroin and money. C0-defendant 42-year-old Franklin T Hicks also of St. joseph pleaded guilty to the same charges as Hughes and will be sentenced next month.