HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — There will eventually be triple the amount of federal prosecutors in Huntington as part of an initiative to crack down on the city’s drug problem.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia Mike Stuart announced during a Thursday press conference in Huntington he plans to add more prosecutors over the next few weeks as part of “Project Huntington.”
The goal of the project is to “make Huntington the safest city in America” by holding drug dealers and traffickers accountable for their actions, Stuart said.
“We’re prepared to fill those prisons back up if that’s what it takes,” he said.
Local law enforcement agencies including the Cabell County Prosecutor’s Office and the Huntington Police Department have partnered with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to address the issue.
The effort is backed by federal agencies including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Huntington Mayor Steve Williams said he hopes the project sets an example for other cities dealing with the same problem.
“We’re going to set standards that others around the country will seek to follow. Project Huntington will become Project West Virginia and, in return, the entire nation will be able to see this is how we can move forward,” Williams said.