Western District of Virginia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Member of Meth Conspiracy Sentenced to 25 Years for Narcotics Trafficking and International Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Bristol, Tennessee man was sentenced yesterday to 25 years in federal prison for conspiring with others in Virginia, Tennessee, Texas, and South Carolina to traffic methamphetamine from Mexico into Southwest Virginia and then launder the monetary proceeds.
Jeremy Cole Canter, 34, pleaded guilty in September 2021 to one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of conspiring to commit international money laundering, one count of possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams more of methamphetamine, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, beginning in 2020, Canter and at least 15 other co-conspirators developed a wide-ranging distribution network that trafficked large shipments of methamphetamine into Southwest Virginia for redistribution. Canter and his co-conspirators made numerous trips to Atlanta, Georgia and Houston, Texas to pick up large quantities of methamphetamine from accomplices who acted as a conduit from multiple sources in Mexico.
In order to launder the funds, the conspirators wired money in increments of $2,000 to designated individuals in Mexico as a finders-fee paid to co-conspirator Amy Deanna Cobb, 35, who – by virtue of her marriage to a member of a Mexican cartel – would then arrange a pickup location for the massive quantities of methamphetamine. In total, over $75,000 was wired to Mexico by various co-conspirators.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia, Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division, and Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the DEA’s Washington Division made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Murphy prosecuted the case.
Former AEP Employee Sentenced on Federal Fraud and Tax ChargesRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh announced that Gregory Thomas Holland, 64, of Roanoke, Virginia, and a former American Electric Power (AEP) employee, was sentenced today to 36 months in federal prison for wire fraud and filing false tax returns.
“For almost three decades, Gregory Holland was trusted to manage the accounts of American Electric Power customers. However, instead of living up to that trust, Holland betrayed it and stole more than $1.6 million dollars,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of Holland’s crimes and demonstrates that the prosecution of white-collar crime is one of my Office’s highest priorities. Our dedicated team is determined to work together with federal law enforcement to bring justice on behalf of the victims of fraud in Western District of Virginia.”
“Gregory Holland exploited his position of trust to enrich himself and spend his company’s money to support an excessive lifestyle while not reporting the stolen income to the IRS,” said Darrell Waldon, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Washington D.C. Field Office. “Our special agents will continue to work with our law enforcement officers to follow the money trail and seek out those who don’t pay their fair share of taxes.”
According to court documents, Holland was employed at AEP for over 35 years and was responsible for managing AEP’s interests during customer bankruptcies, including filing claims on behalf of AEP as well as processing and collecting customer payments.
In 2001, unbeknownst to anyone else in the company, Holland opened a personal checking account using AEP’s name and address. Between May 2002 and January 2018, Holland admitted to depositing hundreds of checks intended for AEP into this account and used the money for numerous personal expenses, including membership dues at the Roanoke Country Club, lake house payments, car payments, clothing purchases.
In addition, Holland did not report any of this stolen income on his IRS Form 1040 Individual Income Tax Returns for tax years 2011 through 2017. The court determined today the total loss to AEP customers to be $1,616,591 with an additional $88,254 loss to the IRS.
The Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the United States Secret Service, and the Virginia State Police investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Baudinet prosecuted the case.
Marion Man Sentenced for Distributing Graphic Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Marion, Virginia man who used the online messaging application KIK to distribute child sex abuse materials featuring prepubescent children was sentenced yesterday to 87 months in federal prison.
Travis Shane Smith, 38, pleaded guilty in September 2021 to one count of knowingly distributing visual depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
According to court documents, Smith was identified as being a member of a known child pornography online chat room by an undercover law enforcement officer working out of Wisconsin.
While on KIK’s chatroom messaging board, Smith used the KIK username “tman_1983” to post multiple graphic videos of preteen children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including two videos of adult males having sex with prepubescent females.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh, Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of the Virginia State Police, made the announcement today.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Virginia State Police, the Smyth County Sheriff’s Office, and the Marion Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher prosecuted the case.
Clintwood Man Pleads Guilty to Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Clintwood, Virginia man, who concealed his ownership interest in a waste management company and failed to report his employment and income from that business on his Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing, pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of bankruptcy fraud in federal court.
According to court documents, in June of 2020, David Bryan “Pokey” Stanley, 48, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia. At the time of his filing, Stanley testified falsely under oath that he was unemployed and had no income whatsoever.
However, at the time of his bankruptcy filing, Stanley knew he had an ownership interest in and received income from a roll-off waste container business he established in 2016 called Interstate Waste Management, LLC.
Stanley is scheduled to be sentenced on June 7, 2022 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Office of the United States Trustee and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher is prosecuting the case.
Sexual Predator Used Snapchat, Grindr to Solicit Teenagers at Boarding School in Southwest VirginiaRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A North Carolina man, who used the social media platforms Snapchat and Grindr to target teenage boys from Southwest Virginia, pleaded guilty today to federal charges.
Jonathan Avery Shumate, 53, of Warrensville, North Carolina, pleaded guilty today to coercion and enticement of minors.
According to court documents, Shumate used both Snapchat and Grindr to contact teenage males attending Oak Hill Academy in Grayson County, Virginia, and offered to provide vapes and vaping materials in exchange for the sixteen- and seventeen-year-old boys sending him sexually explicit photographs and nude videos of themselves. In addition to communicating online, Shumate traveled to Oak Hill Academy to deliver the vaping supplies, and also offered to provide oral sex for the juveniles while requesting that they perform oral sex for him.
Shumate is scheduled to be sentenced on June 21, 2022 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ashe County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher is prosecuting the case.
Southwest Virginia Man Sentenced in Unemployment Benefits ScamRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Southwest Virginia man, who conspired with more than 30 others in a scheme to illegally obtain pandemic unemployment benefits, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the government, and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and was sentenced last week to 30 months in federal prison.
Over the course of nine months, Jacob Hunter Hicks, 35 of Lebanon, VA, conspired with Leelynn Danielle Chytka, Gregory Marcus Tackett, Jeffery Ryan Tackett, and others to file fraudulent claims with the Virginia Employment Commission on behalf of at least 37 otherwise-ineligible individuals, with a total actual loss to the United States of at least $499,000.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia, Syreeta Scott, Special Agent-in-Charge, Philadelphia Regional Office, U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General, and Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Washington, D.C., Field Office made the announcement.
The Department of Labor - Office of the Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Washington, D.C., Field Office, the Norton Police Department, and the Russell County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel J. Murphy and Michael Baudinet prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Roanoke Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Roanoke man, who possessed a stolen firearm in the course of a domestic disturbance incident in 2018, pleaded guilty to a federal firearms violation.
Joshua Lamont Blake, 41, pleaded guilty last week to one count of possession of a stolen firearm.
According to court documents, on September 24, 2018, law enforcement responded to a call regarding a domestic disturbance at an address in northwest Roanoke, during which officers encountered Blake. After learning that Blake had outstanding warrants, law enforcement placed Blake under arrest and was found in possession of a stolen Ruger .380 pistol. Blake denied stealing the firearm but admitted he had reason to know it was reported stolen.
Blake is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24, 2022 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division, announced the sentence.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Roanoke City Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Baudinet and Matthew Miller are prosecuting the case.
MS-13 Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Kill Rival Mexican Mafia InmateRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – The last of five federal prisoners charged with conspiring to kill a fellow inmate at United States Penitentiary – Lee, a high-security federal prison for male inmates, pleaded guilty today to federal charges related to the attempted murder.
Carlos Alfredo Almonte, a.k.a. “Rabioso,” 31, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit murder, attempt to commit murder, assault of an inmate with a dangerous weapon, and possession of a weapon by an inmate.
Last week, Julio Angel Chavez, Angel Moreno Guevara, and German Arquimedez Hernandez each pleaded guilty for their roles in the attempted murder of fellow inmate and victim “A.Z.” on January 15, 2020. Moris Alex Flores pleaded guilty in June 2021.
“To guarantee the civil rights of federal prisoners, they must be able to serve their sentences in environments that are safe and humane and without the fear of violence. My Office will continue to prioritize the prosecution of violent crimes that occur against those in federal custody, especially at USP-Lee.” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “I am grateful to the efforts of the FBI and the Federal Bureau of Prisons for their work on bringing these five, violent offenders to justice.”
“Protecting the civil rights of every citizen and investigating violations thereof is a priority for the FBI, regardless of an individual's status in the community,” Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI’s Richmond Division said today. “The victim being incarcerated did not lessen the importance of this investigation, as we worked closely with our partners to ensure those responsible for his death were brought to justice.”
According to court documents, Almonte, Flores, Chavez, Hernandez, and Guevara - all members of the international criminal gang MS-13 - attacked A.Z. – a member of the rival Mexican Mafia - on January 15, 2020, with the intent to commit murder. Flores and Guevara attacked A.Z. in his cell with metal shanks while Almonte, Chavez, and Hernandez blocked the cell door and fought off other inmates who attempted to interfere with the attack.
A.Z. sustained multiple stab wounds but ultimately survived the attack.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony P. Giorno, Lena L. Busscher, Whit D. Pierce, and Daniel J. Murphy all collaborated on the prosecution of the case.
Abingdon Man Pleads Guilty to Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – An Abingdon man, who concealed bank accounts from a federal bankruptcy court during his Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, pleaded guilty last week to one count of bankruptcy fraud.
Ronald Eugene Lefler, 67, of Abingdon, VA, is scheduled to be sentenced in May and faces up to five years in prison.
According to court documents, on September 20, 2015, Lefler filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the Western District of Virginia and testified to the court that he had deposited all of his income into a debtor-in-possession bank account, a requirement under the bankruptcy proceedings.
Lefler admitted to making a false report to the bankruptcy court when, at the time of that testimony, he knew he had deposited large sums of money into his Eastman Credit Union business account and used that money to fund lifestyle expenses, including large withdrawals at the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in North Carolina.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Murphy is prosecuting the case.
Romanian National, Part of ATM-Skimming Conspiracy, Sentenced to 30 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Romanian national, who traveled to the United States and participated in an ATM skimming conspiracy, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison.
Marius Catalui, 47, pleaded guilty in June 2021 to one count of access device fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents, between December 2018 and May 2019, Catalui and others worked together to obtain personal identifying information, including debit and credit card numbers and PINs from bank customers without lawful authority and used that data to make unauthorized cash withdrawals from the victims for their personal gain.
The group utilized device-making equipment, commonly referred to as “skimming devices,” to facilitate this scheme by installing them into card readers on ATMs at federally-insured banks throughout the Western District of Virginia. In conjunction with small hidden cameras that they placed on the ATMs, Catalui’s group stole customers’ PINs and account numbers, re-encoded the information onto blank plastic cards, and then used those cards to withdraw over $300,000 before being apprehended.
In addition to over two years of prison time, Catalui was also ordered to pay $351,642 in restitution to the impacted banks.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh made the announcement today.
The United States Secret Service, the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office, the Roanoke County Police Department, the Campbell County Police Department, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, the Farmville Police Department, the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office, the Blacksburg Police Department, and the Lynchburg Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Coleman Adams prosecuted the case.
Man Responsible for Violent Crime Spree in Central Virginia to Serve 30 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.-A Gordonsville, Virginia man, who committed a series of armed robberies of commercial businesses in the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and Stafford County in the Summer of 2020, was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison.
Dominique Dejone Thurston, 23, pleaded guilty in October 2021 to seven counts of Hobbs Act robbery and two counts of brandishing and possessing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
“Throughout the summer of 2020, Thurston terrorized local businesses and endangered the lives of numerous store clerks during his armed robbery spree. In many cases, his brutality was remarkable. He pistol-whipped store employees who were not even resisting his demands. This case shows how just one person can undermine how safe a community feels, and how important it is that federal, state, and local resources come together when the effects of violence are felt. His violent spree ended as a direct result of the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today.
“Today’s announcement sends a true message that acts of violence like those involved in this investigation will not be tolerated. We are extremely thankful that none of the hardworking people who were victimized by this individual were killed. We hope this sentencing will help calm fears and restore our community to some sense of normalcy. I am proud that our agents and partnering agencies worked around the clock to bring justice to those responsible. ATF is always honored to stand side by side with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Albemarle County Police Department, the City of Charlottesville Police Department, and the Stafford County Police Department as we collectively disrupt violent offenders,” ATF Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson said. “The ATF Washington Field Division will continue to collaborate with our partners to ensure citizens are protected against those individuals who have no regard for others or property within our communities.”
“Cases such as this one demonstrates the Albemarle County Police Department’s continued commitment to working with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, and is a prime example of how investigators have success when law enforcement agencies cooperate and share information. Due to the diligence and cooperation between our department, Charlottesville Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, District 9 Probation and Parole and the US Attorney’s Office, our community is that much safer,” said Colonel Sean Reeves, Chief of Albemarle County Police.
According to court documents, Thurston committed a series of armed Hobbs Act robberies at commercial businesses in Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville. These robberies included the Oak Hill Market in Albemarle County, the 7-Eleven on Ivy Road in the City of Charlottesville, a BP gas station convenience store in the City of Charlottesville, the 7-Eleven on Greenbrier Drive in Albemarle County, a Kangaroo Gas station in Albemarle County, a 7 Day Junior Store in the City of Charlottesville, and the 7-Eleven on Boulderview Road in Albemarle County.
During each robbery, Thurston entered the store, placed an item on the checkout counter, and then brandished his gun at the clerks while demanding all the cash in their registers. In several of the robberies, Thurston pistol-whipped clerks even though none of them were resisting his demands.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Albemarle County Police Department, the City of Charlottesville Police Department, the City of Charlottesville Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, and the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Ronald M. Huber and Special Assistant United States Attorney Nina-Alice Antony with the Charlottesville Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case for the United States.
Southwest Virginia Man Sentenced for Role in Unemployment Benefits ScamRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Southwest Virginia man, who conspired with more than 30 others in a scheme to defraud the government of more than $499,000 in unemployment benefits, was sentenced this week to 30 months in federal prison.
George Levi Buckles, 32, pleaded guilty in October 2021 to one count of conspiracy to defraud the government, one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and one count of making false statements.
According to court documents, Buckles conspired with Leelynn Danielle Chytka, Gregory Marcus Tackett, Jeffery Ryan Tackett, and others to commit fraud against the United States in connection with the filing of fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment benefits.
Over the course of nine months, members of the conspiracy filed fraudulent claims with the Virginia Employment Commission on behalf of at least 37 individuals, with a total actual loss to the United States of at least $499,000. Chytka, the mastermind behind the scheme, was sentenced to nine years in prison, as were both Tacketts.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia; Syreeta Scott, Special Agent-in-Charge, Philadelphia Regional Office, U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General, Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Washington, D.C., Field Office made the announcement.
The Department of Labor - Office of the Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Washington, D.C., Field Office, the Norton Police Department, and the Russell County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel J. Murphy and Michael Baudinet prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Danville Man Sentenced for Role in Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
DANVILLE, Va. – A Danville man, who was part of a conspiracy that distributed more than 500 grams of methamphetamine in the Danville area in 2018, was sentenced yesterday to 70 months in federal prison.
Steven Ray Dove, 43, pleaded guilty in October 2020 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine, and 50 grams or more of a substance containing methamphetamine, one count of distributing methamphetamine, and one count of distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, beginning in March 2018, Dove conspired with Darrell William Murdock, 35 of Danville, VA, Lianna Nicole Parker, 31 of Rustburg, VA, and others to distribute methamphetamine in the Danville, Virginia area. Specifically, Dove admitted that Murdock was his main source of supply for the deadly drug.
Earlier this year, Murdock was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in the conspiracy.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division, announced the sentence.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Danville Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Barish Swartz prosecuted the case.
Madison County Woman Sentenced to 12 Years for $1.6 Million FraudsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTESVILLE, Va. – A Madison County woman was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for perpetrating a scheme in which she stole more than $1.6 million from victims while purporting to have terminal cancer, vast wealth, and connections to celebrities.
Christine Favara Anderson, 51, pleaded guilty in July 2021 to three counts of mail fraud and eight counts of wire fraud. In addition to her prison sentence, Anderson was also ordered to pay $1,615,557.91 in restitution to her victims.
“This defendant spun a web of lies and fraud so varied and extensive, it defies simple summary. At bottom, Anderson stole $1.6 million from victims who had placed their trust in her, and then she invented false excuses – like feigned importance, frozen bank accounts, and terminal illness – so she could hold onto these proceeds without repayment.” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “When victims of the Western District of Virginia suffer from extensive fraud such as this, my Office will always partner with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to pursue those who perpetrate these crimes and hold them to account for their conduct.”
“Ms. Anderson created elaborate lies about having terminal cancer, vast wealth, and connections to celebrities to gain the trust of her clients and commit her criminal activities. With this guilty plea, Ms. Anderson has finally accepted responsibility for her actions and learned the price of such brazen conduct. Those who were manipulated and suffered losses because of her deceit will see justice served,” Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division said. “FBI Richmond appreciates the partnership of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the Western District of the United States Attorney’s Office during this investigation. If you suspect fraud, please report it to tips.fbi.gov or to your local FBI office.”
According to court documents, Anderson owned and operated the publishing companies known as “Christine F. Anderson Publishing and Media” from 2014 through 2017, and “Sage Wisdom Publishing” from 2017 through 2020. Anderson took money from book authors but later failed to pay those authors their royalties as owed and did not provide products and services as negotiated. In addition, Anderson often falsely claimed to have been diagnosed with cancer in order to delay payments to book authors, while also purporting to maintain vast personal wealth and connections to celebrities.
When authors failed to receive the royalty payments they were owed, Anderson made elaborate excuses for the delays, including claiming to be busy working with the White House on the State of the Union address.
In addition to the book publishing scam, Anderson also admitted to orchestrating a real estate scheme where she signed contracts for expensive real estate, provided multiple false proofs of her own funds, but then was unable to provide the earnest money deposits. Often, Anderson would sign checks for earnest money deposits knowing she did not have the funds and the checks would never clear. She convinced other individuals to loan her money for these real estate transactions knowing that she could not and would not ever repay them. Anderson’s excuses for her inability to pay the earnest money deposits and the loans included her false claims of a cancer diagnosis, freezes on her bank accounts, and other ruses.
In April 2005, Anderson was indicted in the Northern District of Illinois for securities fraud. In June 2009, after a plea of guilty, the district court there ordered her to pay $155,000 in restitution. In July 2020, Anderson communicated with the Department of Justice’s Financial Litigation Unit regarding her ability to pay that restitution, and in doing so, made several false statements
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Rumsey and Madison County Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Wade Gelbert are prosecuting the case.
Jury Convicts Two in $499,000 Unemployment SchemeRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A federal jury convicted a pair of Southwest Virginia residents yesterday who conspired with at least thirty others in a scheme to defraud the government of more than $499,000.
Wesley William Hickman, 25, of Big Stone Gap, VA, and Marissa Leann Kiser, 27, of St. Paul, VA, were each convicted of conspiracy to defraud the United States, fraud in connection with emergency benefits, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud in connection with emergency benefits, and aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Hickman and Kiser conspired with Leelynn Danielle Chytka, Gregory Marcus Elmer Tackett, Jeffery Ryan Tackett, and others to commit fraud against the United States in connection with the filing of fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment benefits. At the time of his involvement in the scheme, Hickman was incarcerated at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail and was not entitled to pandemic unemployment assistance. However, Hickman and other jail inmates provided their personal information to Jeffrey Tackett for the purpose of filing fraudulent claims. Kiser provided her personal information to her friend Chytka, who was the ringleader of this widespread conspiracy, for the purpose of filing a fraudulent claim on her behalf.
Over the course of nine months, members of the conspiracy filed fraudulent claims with the Virginia Employment Commission on behalf of at least 37 individuals, with a total actual loss to the United States of at least $499,000. Hickman and Kiser will be sentenced later this summer.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia; Syreeta Scott, Special Agent-in-Charge, Philadelphia Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and Acting Special Agent in Charge is Darrell J. Waldon of the Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigation made the announcement.
The Department of Labor - Office of the Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Washington, D.C., Field Office, the Norton Police Department, and the Russell County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel J. Murphy and Michael Baudinet prosecuted the case.
Roanoke Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Traffic Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, Heroin, and CocaineRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Roanoke man was sentenced last week to 14 years in prison for conspiring with others to traffic dangerous drugs from sources across the country into the Roanoke Valley.
Stephen Cornell Vaughn Jr., 39, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and 100 grams or more of heroin.
Following his arrest, Vaughn admitted that he regularly obtained large quantities of methamphetamine and opioids, including fentanyl, from drug sources in both the Northeastern United States as well as Las Vegas, and then trafficked them into the Roanoke Valley for redistribution. Evidence in the case revealed that Vaughn had transported more than 100 pounds of narcotics into the local Roanoke community during the course of the conspiracy.
The investigation of Vaughn culminated in a traffic stop in Kansas in 2018, leading to his arrest. During the stop, one of Vaughn’s couriers was found to be in possession of 11.5 pounds of methamphetamine, eight pounds of cocaine, and 2.5 pounds of fentanyl, stashed in the trunk of a rental vehicle. Vaughn later acknowledged making and coordinating several such drug runs, paying as much as $130,000 for narcotics in a single transaction. Investigators established that Vaughn often flew to meet his contacts in other states while his couriers transported the purchased narcotics by car.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Virginia State Police investigated the case with assistance from the region’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force, the Roanoke City Police Department, the Roanoke County Police Department, and the City of Salem Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kari Munro and Jonathan Jones prosecuted the case for the United States.
Charlottesville Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud, Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A Charlottesville woman pleaded guilty today to altering and forging checks she obtained without the consent of the check owners.
Samantha Leigh Thomas, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Thomas stole checks that were not made out to her and she either altered the check to change the name of the payee to her own name or forged the signature of the original payee. For example, in one instance, Thomas changed the check’s original amount of $25 into $1,200. Thomas deposited all of her ill-gotten gains into one of five personal checking accounts maintained at five different financial institutions. The eventual loss suffered by all victims exceeded $25,000.
Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on May 26, 2022, and faces a sentence of up to 32 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia made the announcement.
The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Albemarle County Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald M. Huber is prosecuting the case.
Convicted Felon Sentenced for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – DeAngelo Lewis Ramsey, 22, was sentenced this week to 47 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for violating his terms of supervised release.
Ramsey was previously convicted for breaking into a federal firearms licensee through the ceiling of a neighboring business and stealing multiple firearms. As a result of his prior conviction history, Ramsey is prohibited by federal law from possessing either firearms or ammunition.
“The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia will always prioritize the prosecution of those who seek to obtain firearms unlawfully. This defendant – who had previously been convicted of a felony for stealing multiple firearms after breaking into a commercial business – chose to illegally obtain and use yet another firearm while on supervised release. This sentence is just punishment and serves as a perfect example of how our office continues to prioritize the public’s safety and protection within the district,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today.
According to court documents, at around 3:30 a.m. on January 7, 2021, Salem, Virginia police were called about a suspicious person in the area of Carey Avenue. A resident’s doorbell camera showed a person dressed in a jacket, ski mask, and gloves coming to the door and reaching for the handle before walking away. Responding officers noticed several interior lights on in vehicles in the neighborhood and multiple mailboxes with doors left open.
Law enforcement searched the area and located an individual that matched the description of the man on the doorbell video. He was carrying a backpack and ran down an embankment when encountered by police.
After a brief chase, officers detained the man and identified the subject as DeAngelo Ramsey. Nearby, they found gloves, a ski mask, and the backpack he was carrying, which contained several items that had been reported missing from vehicles and mailboxes. In addition, the backpack contained a Glock 23 pistol with an extended magazine and one hollow-point round of ammunition.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated the case, with assistance from the Salem Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin B. Johnson prosecuted the case.
Thirteen Charged in Roanoke-Area TakedownRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – Law enforcement officials and the United States Attorney’s Office announced today the recent arrests of thirteen individuals on a variety of federal charges, including distribution of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, possession of explosives by a felon, and illegal storage of explosives.
“These charges are the result of a federal, state, and local law enforcement partnership working together to stem the tide of crime in the Roanoke Valley. We all know the harm that narcotics trafficking causes to a community, which too often includes cycles of escalating violence.” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “This effort is just one of the ways the United States Attorney’s Office is seeking to hold accountable those individuals who undermine the safety of our community, and we are committed to working with our law enforcement partners and community members to provide assistance to those who want to see it thrive.”
“Today the Roanoke community witnessed a significant, coordinated law enforcement effort undertaken by the FBI and our partners with the Roanoke City and Roanoke County Police Departments, and the Virginia State Police,” Stanley Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division said today. “Care and caution for these communities, have been pivotal in our planning to address the increase in crime occurring in the Roanoke area; and with today’s effort and concerted efforts in the last few months we have been able to remove a number of offenders from your streets. This is not over. The FBI remains committed to working with our partners and community members to address crime threats in these communities and hold criminals accountable. We ask that you please continue to assist law enforcement by reporting criminal activity.”
“We are grateful that our department can partner with these agencies at every level of the criminal justice system to hold these individuals accountable,” said Chief Sam Roman. “These are individuals who wish to cause harm through organized crime in our community, and this shows them and others like them that we will not stand for their behavior in Roanoke. We will do all we can with all the resources we have available to hold them responsible for their destructive, violent actions.”
“With overdose deaths increasing at an alarming rate across the Commonwealth, this investigative operation is extremely timely and essential to our state, local, and federal public safety initiatives to safeguard communities from the violence and tragedy so often associated with drug abuse and distribution,” said Captain Jeffrey A. Bartlett, Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Salem Field Office. “This is just the beginning of our collaborative efforts to remove high-level drug network operators who make it their business to prey on the Roanoke and Salem communities.”
“The suspects arrested and indicted today are responsible for bringing dangerous drugs into the Roanoke Valley that poison our citizens,” Roanoke County Police Chief Howard Hall said today. “Removing them from our community makes us all safer.”
“Today’s announcement is our collective way of saying we have had enough. Narcotics distribution in our communities is dangerous and detrimental to the safety of everyone,” said Charlie J. Patterson, ATF Washington Field Division Special Agent in Charge. “Protecting the public is our top priority. ATF remains focused on collaborating and lending resources to our local, state and federal partners in our continuing effort to combat violent crime.”
Arrested over the last two weeks were:
- Thomas Mauney, 31, Roanoke, Va.- Distribution of heroin and fentanyl.
- Destiny Jones, 29, Roanoke, Va. - Distribution of fentanyl.
- Shaewon Leon Smith, 33, Roanoke, Va.- Distribution of fentanyl and possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute.
- Shakeem Malik Hunt, 27, Roanoke, Va.- Distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine.
- Isiah Surles, 26, Roanoke, Va. - Distribution of cocaine.
- Richard “Bugatti” Brown, Roanoke, Va. - Distribution of cocaine.
- Travon Hardy, 28, Roanoke, Va. - Distribution of heroin and fentanyl.
- Anthony Haynes, 32, Roanoke, Va. - Distribution of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine
- Richard Leon Cotton, 43, Roanoke, Va.- Distribution of heroin and fentanyl.
- Robert Wright, 28, Vinton, Va. - Possession of explosives by a felon, illegal storage of explosives.
In addition to these ten defendants, the following three have been arrested in recent weeks on similar federal charges as part of the same effort:
- Daunte Rashad Lamonde, 28, Roanoke, Va.- Possession of heroin with the intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
- Torrence Lamont Smith, 41, Roanoke, Va.- Possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
- Anthony Dwayne Banks, 31, Roanoke, Va.- Distribution of methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the City of Roanoke Police Department, the Roanoke County Police Department, the Salem Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Virginia State Police are investigating the case.
An indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Salem Man Sentenced for ‘Buzzing’ Salem Firefighters with DroneRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Salem, Virginia man, who admitted to flying a drone near the fire station in the City of Salem in July 2019, was sentenced today to two years’ probation, a $100 fine, and the forfeiture of the drone, which had an estimated value of $1,600.
James Russell Weeks III, 40, pleaded guilty in November 2021 to operating an unregistered aircraft.
Because any drone weighing more than .55 pounds is considered an “unmanned aircraft” by the Federal Aviation Administration, it must be registered before being operated, and Weeks failed to register his drone with the FAA as required.
Weeks admitted to ‘buzzing’ a group of firefighters that stood outside the City of Salem fire station on July 25, 2019, by flying his drone directly at the firefighters, who had to dive out of the way, and then flying the craft into the garage of the fire station where it crashed into a pole.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia made the announcement.
The Salem Police Department and the United States Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Bassford prosecuted the case for the United States.
Husband and Wife Realtor Team Plead Guilty to Wire FraudRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A husband and wife realtor team from Abingdon, Virginia, pleaded guilty yesterday to federal wire fraud charges related to their scheme to create fake residential sales contracts in order to obtain advance sales commissions to which they were not entitled.
Jessee Allen DeLoach, 40, and Natasha Ashley Miller DeLoach, 38, both pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of wire fraud.
According to court documents, the DeLoaches owned a real estate agency called Koltown Properties, Inc., which operated in Southwest Virginia. Between March 2016 and November 2019, the defendants created at least nineteen phony residential sales contracts and submitted them to multiple advance commission companies throughout the country in order to fraudulently obtain money.
Advance commission companies provide a financial service to real estate agents by assisting them with cash flow. Specifically, real estate agents may sell portions of their pending commissions on legitimate residential sales contracts in exchange for access to cash before the closing date.
One scheme the DeLoaches used was to create entirely false sales contracts for properties they knew were either not under contract or that listed buyers and sellers who did not exist. In another scheme, the DeLoaches altered valid residential sales contracts to reflect that no other real estate agent was involved in order to double their claimed sales commissions. To further their schemes, the DeLoaches created fake title companies, including one named Excel Title Company, to validate the fraudulent contracts to the advance commission companies so they would in turn authorize commission payments to the DeLoaches.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI made the announcement.
Both Natasha and Jessee DeLoach pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and agreed to pay over $146,000 in restitution. At sentencing, the couple faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Virginia State Police investigated the case, with assistance from the Wise County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher is prosecuting the case.
Weyers Cave Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Possession, Receipt of Thousands of Images of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
HARRISONBURG, Va. – A Weyers Cave, Virginia man, who was found to be in possession of child pornography after being reported to the FBI, was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison.
John Taylor Whittington, 69, pleaded guilty in September 2021, to one count of possession of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography.
“When child pornography images are downloaded, shared, or otherwise viewed, it perpetuates the victimization of innocent children,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “These cases are a top priority for our office, and we are grateful for the diligent efforts of our law enforcement partners in helping to bring yet another predator to justice.”
“Through this investigation, the FBI and our partners were able to remove an individual from society who had a careless, disregard for the welfare of these young victims,” Stanley Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division said today. “We are committed to identifying these criminals and holding them accountable; but more importantly we are committed to identifying the young children victimized by these criminals and providing resources to assist them as they heal and grow into adulthood. If you, or someone you know, has been a victim of child pornography - or you suspect a crime is occurring - please report it to authorities immediately.”
In late 2020, FBI executed a search warrant at Whittington’s home and seized multiple electronic devices including multiple laptops, seven thumb drives, and hundreds of portable storage devices.
A forensic examination of the electronic devices seized from Whittington’s home revealed approximately 4,700 images depicting minor-aged children engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Whittington admitted that he was attracted to minor-aged females and possessed images of what he knew to be child pornography.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Virginia State Police, the Augusta County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, and the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Barish Swartz prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood organizes federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
Two Plead Guilty in Conspiracy to Retaliate Against A WitnessRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. - – A pair of Roanoke men who conspired to retaliate against a witness, to distribute fentanyl, and to possess a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, pleaded guilty recently in federal court.
William Preston Ramey-Woodard, 42, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiring to threaten bodily harm or cause bodily harm to another person to retaliate against that person for providing information to law enforcement regarding the commission of a federal offense, one count of distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Joseph Coquia “Kee” Martin, 42, of Roanoke, Va., pleaded guilty last week to one count of attempting to murder a person who was assisting a law enforcement officer and one count of discharging and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
“These two defendants sought to retaliate against a government witness and for that, they are being held accountable,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “Too many times people with information have been scared to come forward due to fear of repercussion. This case should serve as an example that we, as a law enforcement community in Roanoke, have your back. We will protect you and prosecute anyone who threatens you for doing what is right.”
“Actions such as witness intimidation will never be tolerated and it is an act that we at ATF take very seriously,” ATF Washington Field Division Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson said today. “We know that it takes immense courage for some of our brave citizens to come forward and speak out against violent crime. We will continue to work with the United States Attorneys’ Office to investigate all matters such as this.”
“All too often, the solving of and successful prosecution regarding incidents of violent crime relies on witness information,” Roanoke Police Chief Sam Roman said. “We know our community is tired of seeing loved ones suffer from the impacts of gun violence and violent crime, and they would do anything to help us stop the ongoing violence in Roanoke. We also know that there are some people who threaten our community members for working with law enforcement agencies on these cases. This is a direct message to our community: do not be afraid to do the right thing. Do not be afraid to work with us on these cases. We will do all we can to protect you from those who threaten you for doing your part to keep your community safe.”
“I appreciate the combined work of the law enforcement community in Roanoke that has led to two violent criminals being removed from our community,” Roanoke County Police Chief Howard Hall said today. “The message should be clear that we will not tolerate this behavior and that we will do everything possible to protect victims and witnesses.”
According to court documents, in March 2020, Ramey-Woodard sold $4,000 worth of fentanyl to a confidential police informant. The transaction was captured on video, during which it is clear the defendant was in possession of a firearm. Following two subsequent controlled purchases from Ramey-Woodard, the defendant was arrested. While in custody, Ramey-Woodard engaged in coded telephone and email conversations with co-conspirator Joseph Martin, which were recorded by the jail. The two discussed the identity of the informant, where he worked, where he lived, and whether the informant should suffer consequences as a result of working with the police.
On May 31, 2020, Martin went to the informant’s home and shot him, causing a non-lethal injury. Ramey-Woodard claimed he wanted the informant to suffer a threat or perhaps physical assault but did not plan, intend, or anticipate Martin would shoot the informant.
Both Ramey-Woodard and Martin face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Virginia State Police, the Roanoke County Police Department, the City of Roanoke Police Department, the Salem Police Department, the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for the County of Roanoke, the Western Virginia Regional Jail, and members of the Roanoke High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (HIDTA) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Bassford and Jonathan Jones are prosecuting the case.
Georgia Man Convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A federal jury in Abingdon convicted a Georgia man yesterday for conspiring to traffic methamphetamine from Georgia into Southwest Virginia.
Jerada “Rod” Henderson, 40, of Locust Grove, Georgia, was convicted by a jury on one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of more than 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Henderson was arrested in October 2018 for conspiring with others to traffic methamphetamine from Georgia into Smyth County for redistribution.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division announced the conviction today.
Henderson will be sentenced on May 3, 2022. The defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum statutory sentence of up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The investigation was conducted by the Smyth County Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Murphy is prosecuting the case.
South Carolina Man Sentenced to 40 Years on Distribution of Methamphetamine, International Money Laundering, Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Greenville, South Carolina man was sentenced today to 40 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine, international money laundering, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and conspiring to obstruct justice.
Joshua Joseph Desorcy, 37 of Greenville, SC, pleaded guilty in October 2021 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of conspiracy to commit international money laundering with the intent to promote the carrying on of a specified unlawful activity, one count of possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of conspiring to obstruct justice.
According to court documents, beginning in 2020, Desorcy was responsible for coordinating the importation of methamphetamine shipments by directing his co-conspirators to make numerous trips to Atlanta, Georgia and Houston, Texas, to pick up large quantities of methamphetamine from accomplices in those cities who acted as conduit from various sources in Mexico. Desorcy coordinated these pickups by directing the wiring of funds to various recipients in Mexico as identified by indicted co-conspirator, Amy Deanna Cobb, 35 of Seneca, SC.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia, Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division, and Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the DEA’s Washington Division made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Murphy is prosecuting the case.
Eight Men Sentenced for Roles in Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – Eight Virginia men, who conspired to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, have been sentenced to federal prison.
Travis Dayton Largen, 40 of Galax, Va., Ronald Lee Davis, 57 of Hillsville, Va., Brandon Wayne Marshall, 37 of Galax, Va., Jeffrey Dean Ray Jr., 30 of Dobson, N.C., Zachary Neil Cochran, 26 of Hillsville, Va., Kevin Gray Westmoreland, 25 of Floyd, Va., Luke Cameron Dale, 28 of Fries, Va., and Michael Adam Weir, 59 of Fancy Gap, Va., all pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute as well as to distributing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
The defendants’ personal involvement in the conspiracy varied. The ringleader of the charged conspiracy, Travis Largen, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, the majority of the remaining co-conspirators received sentences of at least 10 years apiece, and yesterday, the last remaining defendant, Brandon Marshall, was sentenced to 100 months in prison.
According to court documents, the defendants conspired amongst themselves and with others to traffic methamphetamine not only in Grayson and Carroll counties in Virginia, but also in North Carolina and Georgia.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division announced the sentence today.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office, the Galax Police Department, and the Twin County Drug Task Force investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit D. Pierce prosecuted the case.
Danville Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
DANVILLE, Va.– The Danville man at the center of a conspiracy that distributed more than 500 grams of methamphetamine in Danville between March 2018 and October 2018, was sentenced on Friday, February 4, 2022, to 10 years in prison.
Darrell William Murdock, 35, pleaded guilty in October 2020 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of a detectable amount of methamphetamine, one count of distributing methamphetamine, and one count of possessing with the intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, beginning in March 2018 and continuing until October 2018, Murdock was the leader of a criminal conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in and around the Danville area by using cellphones and social media applications to communicate with other members of the conspiracy and to facilitate the deadly drug’s distribution. He also “fronted” methamphetamine to other members of the conspiracy for redistribution.
Co-conspirators Bendi Annette Davis, 49 from Ringgold, VA, Steven Ray Dove, 43 from Danville, VA, Steven Wayne Flynn, 43 from Orange, VA, Misty Nicole Kiley, 45 from Danville, VA, and Lianna Nicole Parker, 31 from Rustburg, VA, are all awaiting sentencing.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division announced the sentence today.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Danville Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Barish Swartz prosecuted the case.
Pair Plead Guilty to Felony Possession of Stolen MailRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A pair of Wytheville, Virginia residents pleaded guilty today to possessing stolen mail, including letters from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration, and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
Joseph Arthur Manning, 35, and Caitlyn Page Turner, 23, pleaded guilty today to one count each of possession of stolen mail.
According to court documents, on December 28, 2021, the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a person who had witnessed mail being stolen from their mailbox by a pair of individuals driving a Kia Optima. Shortly after the call, Wythe County Sheriff’s deputies located a Kia Optima and conducted a traffic stop. Manning and Turner were the occupants of the vehicle.
During the traffic stop, deputies obtained a search warrant for the car and located and recovered numerous pieces of mail from various addresses in the Barren Springs area.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh made the announcement.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Lena L. Busscher prosecuted the case for the United States.
Luray Woman Sentenced for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Luray, Virginia woman, who was found to be in possession of twenty-nine pounds of methamphetamine, was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison for possession and intent to distribute more than 500 grams of the drug.
Danica Leigh Strate, 33, pleaded guilty in June 2021 to one count of possessing with the intent to distribute and distributing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, in November 2019, Strate was living in Stanley, Virginia with co-defendant Gene Anderson Stidham when law enforcement assisted a Virginia probation officer with a search of their residence. During the search, crystal methamphetamine, a wallet, and plastic bags were located. However, a subsequent search of duffle bags that Stidham and Strate had removed from the residence prior to the search led to the discovery of twenty-nine pounds of methamphetamine, cash, a digital scale, a .380 caliber pistol, and various items associated with drug distribution. Stidham and Strate both admitted to being involved in the distribution of methamphetamine.
Stidham previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and one count of possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. He was sentenced in December 2021 to a term of imprisonment of 180 months.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force, the Page County Sheriff’s Office, the Luray Police Department, the Stanley Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Virginia State Police investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Lee prosecuted the case.
Former Nurse at Danville Hospital Sentenced for Tampering with Prescription Opioid Drugs, Making False StatementsRead the Press Release
DANVILLE, Va. – A former registered nurse working at Sovah Health-Danville was sentenced today to 36 months in federal prison for tampering with consumer products (fentanyl and hydromorphone) and making false statements.
Emilee Kathryn Poteat, 31, pleaded guilty in May 2021 to one count of tampering with consumer products (fentanyl and hydromorphone) that affect interstate commerce, with one count of reckless disregard for the risk that another person be placed in danger of death or bodily injury, and one count of making false statements.
“Those who are trusted to keep opioids and other pain medications secure must be held to the highest standards possible,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “When those individuals break that trust, the United States Attorney’s Office will hold them accountable to ensure the public’s trust in our medical institutions.”
“Health care professionals who steal needed medications from their patients put those patients at increased risk of harm and create a disruption in the legal drug supply chain,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark S. McCormack of the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations – Metropolitan Washington Field Office. “We will continue to protect the public health and bring to justice health care professionals who take advantage of their unique position and compromise their patients’ health and comfort by tampering with prescription drugs.”
According to court documents, beginning in January 2020, Poteat diverted and tampered with fentanyl vials and hydromorphone injectables (a/k/a Dilaudid) intended for the use of patients at Sovah Health-Danville.
On May 19, 2020, it was discovered that the tops of several vials of fentanyl stored in an AcuDose machine on floor 6A had apparently been removed and tampered. Of the twenty vials of fentanyl inspected, fourteen of the vials had the tops popped off while the remaining tops fell off when touched. One of the vials had a dry white film around the rim which appeared to be superglue. To access an AcuDose machine, each registered nurse has their own unique code that must be entered to gain entry, and a review of the machine on floor 6A revealed that Poteat was the only employee who accessed the drawer where the tampered vials were found.
On May 28, 2020, Poteat was interviewed by law enforcement. She denied tampering with any controlled substances and said she did not drink alcohol or use drugs. During a subsequent interview with law enforcement on June 28, 2020, Poteat again told investigators that she did not tamper with, use, or sell drugs, and suggested another person used her password to gain access to the AcuDose machine on 6A.
In her interview with the Virginia Department of Health Professions after being terminated from Sovah Health-Danville, Poteat admitted she had a substance abuse problem, self-medicated with opioids, and diverted the fentanyl and hydromorphone she accessed at Sovah Health-Danville for her own use.
The Food and Drug Administration, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Virginia Department of Health Professions investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Ramseyer prosecuted the case.
North Carolina Man Arrested After Using Snapchat, Grindr to Solicit Teenagers in Southwest VirginiaRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A North Carolina man was arrested January 24, 2022 on criminal charges related to his alleged solicitation of teenage boys in Southwest Virginia using the social media applications Grindr and Snapchat.
According to court documents, Jonathan Avery Shumate, 53, of Warrensville, North Carolina, used both Snapchat and Grindr to contact two teenage males residing in Grayson County, Virginia, and offered to provide vapes and vaping materials in exchange for the boys sending him sexually explicit photographs and videos of themselves. After communicating online for several weeks, Shumate offered to bring the teens vaping supplies, which they paid him for with cash. Later, Shumate told the victims they could provide him with nude pictures of themselves instead of cash for the vaping supplies. Shumate also offered to provide oral sex for the juveniles.
“We live in an online world where our children and teens are connected, virtually, to people all over the globe,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “While online safety starts at home, when individuals seek to exploit our youth using the internet and its social media sites, it is the job of the Department of Justice to step in.”
“Without caution and awareness, social media platforms can easily become a catalyst for predatory behavior as demonstrated by Mr. Shumate,” Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI’s Richmond Division said. “Protecting unsuspecting youth from what could become life-long consequences at the hands of online predators is a responsibility the FBI and our partners take very seriously. If you’ve been victimized, or know of a similar situation occurring, please report it to us at 1-804-261-1044, or online at tips.fbi.gov.”
Shumate is charged with one count of attempting to engage in sexually explicit conduct with a minor.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ashe County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
High Court of Scotland Denies Appeal of Child Kidnapping FugitivesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The High Court of Justiciary in Scotland has denied the appeal of three individuals and determined there is no bar to their extradition back to the United States to stand trial for an alleged attempted violent kidnapping they planned and attempted in July 2018 in the Western District of Virginia. Further appeals of extradition are possible.
In early August 2018, Valerie Perfect Hayes, 41, Gary Blake Reburn, 58, and Jennifer Lynn Amnott, 36, fled to the United Kingdom after the attempted kidnapping of five children in a Mennonite Community within Dayton, Virginia, and have repeatedly sought to block their extradition back to the United States based on the severity of the mandatory life sentence each would receive if convicted.
“I am grateful to see the extradition process proceeding,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “This community was shocked when these events occurred and the underlying plot was uncovered. Although we expect further appeals, the Department of Justice will never stop working to bring those charged back to the United States to face justice.”
Hayes, Reburn, and Jennifer Amnott are charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping involving children, conspiracy to kill witnesses with the intent to prevent communication with law enforcement, kidnapping, attempting kidnapping, attempted killing of a witness, and various firearms offenses.
Jennifer Amnott’s husband, Frank Jesse Amnott, pleaded guilty in December 2019 to one count of conspiracy to commit the offense of kidnapping, one count of conspiracy to kill witnesses, and one count of brandishing, carrying, and using a firearm in commission of a federal crime of violence.
According to court documents, in 2014, Frank and Jennifer Amnott befriended Hayes, who consistently claimed to the Amnotts, and others, that she worked for the U.S. government and that her work included services for the intelligence community or other clandestine organizations.
In July 2018, the Amnotts were living in Florida when they were contacted by Hayes, who was living with her boyfriend, Gary Reburn, in Maryland. Hayes told the Amnotts that three of her children had been kidnapped and were in the custody of two separate Mennonite families in Dayton, Virginia. Hayes asked the Amnotts for assistance in recovering these children, as well as two additional children. Hayes knew the Amnotts could not conceive their own children and promised that if they helped Hayes kidnap the children, the Amnotts could keep one of the other children as their own.
Hayes, Reburn, and the Amnotts devised a plan to travel from Maryland to Dayton, Virginia to kidnap the children from two separate homes. To effectuate the kidnapping, the conspirators planned to kill the parents of the children. According to the plan, Hayes, Reburn, and Frank Amnott would enter the first house and hold the parents at gunpoint. After the two children were secured by Hayes, Reburn and Frank Amnott would then murder the parents. Next, they planned to drive to the second house, force entry, and perform a similar execution. In planning to kill the parents at both houses, the conspirators sought to eliminate witnesses to the abductions. Afterwards, all of the children would be taken from Virginia to Maryland, and the Amnotts would return to Florida with the child promised to them by Hayes.
All five children to be kidnapped were younger than eight years old.
On the evening of July 29, 2018, the conspirators put their plan into action. Jennifer Amnott remained in Maryland watching Hayes’ other children, but remained in contact, receiving updates from Virginia. Hayes, Reburn, and Frank Amnott waited until nightfall, at which time they drove to the first house. There, a husband and wife were preparing to retire for the evening while their two young children were already asleep.
Hayes approached the door, disguised in clothing to appear as a Mennonite. After the father opened the door, the group forced their way inside and held him at gunpoint. With the father subdued, Hayes began to look for his wife and the two children. Unbeknownst to Hayes, Reburn, and Amnott, when they forced their way into the home, the mother had grabbed a cordless phone and ran outside of the house, hiding in a cornfield near the home. She dialed 9-1-1 to report the incident and a deputy with the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office was immediately dispatched.
Inside the home, Amnott and Reburn took the father – at gunpoint – to the basement, where they bound his wrists together behind his back. Reburn went upstairs as Amnott stayed and held him at gunpoint.
Shortly after the 9-1-1 call, a deputy with the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office arrived on the scene. The deputy entered the house and located the children, who were unharmed and still in their bedroom. The deputy proceeded to the basement where he encountered Frank Amnott, holding the father at gunpoint. Amnott was taken into custody without incident.
Because their planned abduction and murders at the first house had been thwarted, the conspirators did not make their way to the second house as planned. Instead, Hayes and Reburn returned to Maryland where they reunited with Jennifer Amnott, and thereafter escaped to Scotland.
The investigation of the case is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs is providing significant support. United States Attorney Christopher Kavanaugh and Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Jones are prosecuting the case for the United States.
Bristol Man Sentenced to 19 Years for Role in Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Bristol, Virginia man, was sentenced on January 21, 2022 to nineteen years in federal prison for distributing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and for using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
According to court documents, Robert Wayne Haislip, a.k.a. Roberto Fabian DeJesus, 49, and others trafficked methamphetamine from sources in Atlanta to various locations in Eastern Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, including Smyth County.
Previously, co-defendants Jayson William Firestone, 33, and Matthew Cody Mullins, 26, both of Saltville, Virginia, were sentenced to ten years (for Firestone) and nine years (for Mullins) in prison for distributing over 50 grams of methamphetamine. Brittany Cornelia Hale, 32, of Bassett, Virginia, was also sentenced to four years in prison for her role in the conspiracy.
According to court documents, the defendants were traveling in a vehicle in Eastern Tennessee enroute to Southwest Virginia when law enforcement executed a traffic stop. Inside the vehicle, officers found approximately two kilograms of methamphetamine, two loaded handguns, scales, and eight cellphones. The defendants admitted to investigators that they made twice-weekly trips to Atlanta and brought back three kilograms of methamphetamine per trip for redistribution in Virginia.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh announced the sentence today.
The Drug Enforcement Administration-Washington Division, the Virginia State Police, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Tennessee 2nd Judicial Drug Task Force, the Smyth County and Washington County Sheriff’s Offices, and the Bristol, Virginia Police Department investigated the case.
Smyth County Commonwealth’s Attorney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Roy Evans prosecuted the case.
Pair Sentenced to 10 Years for Distributing Methamphetamine, Heroin, Cocaine, and Fentanyl in Roanoke AreaRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – Two more members of a drug conspiracy have been sentenced in federal court for their role in the distribution of deadly narcotics.
Kenneth Tito Beaner, 27, and Nathan Jamal Nelms, 26, both of Roanoke, Virginia, were sentenced this week to serve 120 months each in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, 100 grams or more of heroin, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and cocaine.
“Our focus on prosecuting violent crime in the Roanoke region remains steadfast,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “This case provides an excellent example of the great work we can accomplish working with our federal, state, and local partners in law enforcement.”
“Combating violent gun crime and narcotics distribution within our communities is a job we take very seriously,” said ATF Washington Field Division Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson. “We will continue collaborate with our partners to disrupt the illegal possession of firearms, distribution of narcotics and other acts of violence within our community.”
According to court documents, from at least May 2018 until September 2019, Beaner and Nelms supported their principal co-conspirators, Antonio Waddell and Jarod Alston, by selling a variety of illegal narcotics from a residence on Crescent Street NW in the City of Roanoke.
According to witnesses in the case, members of the conspiracy facilitated sales of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl cooperatively by serving each other’s customers as needed and participating jointly in drug sales. Over the course of the investigation, officers made more than twenty-six controlled purchases of narcotics from Beaner, Nelms, and their associates to establish the scope and breadth of the drug enterprise.
On August 28, 2019, investigators executed a warrant to search the Crescent Street residence and seized approximately 370 grams of methamphetamine, 103 grams of fentanyl, 8 grams of cocaine, 6 grams of heroin, 119 grams of a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl, and a firearm that were all hidden in various locations throughout the kitchen. From a related search warrant executed at another residence, investigators seized more than $35,000 in U.S. currency that had been used in connection with drug sales.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the City of Roanoke Police Department, the Roanoke HIDTA Program, and the Virginia State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Miller and Kari Munro prosecuted the case for the United States.
Marion Man Sentenced for Possessing Fentanyl with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Marion, Virginia man was sentenced this week to 48 months in prison for possession with the intent to distribute the deadly drug fentanyl.
Dakota Shadoe Tunnell, 21, pleaded guilty in November 2021 to one count of possessing with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to court documents, Tunnell became known to law enforcement in early 2021 when a flood of illegal pills began showing up in Smyth County, Virginia. The pills resembled a pharmaceutical preparation of oxycodone-hydrochloride pills, but were inconsistent in size, shape, and color as compared to pharmaceutical-grade pills. Pills of this type are sometimes referred to as “Roxicodone,” “pressed,” or “M30” pills because they have an imprint of an “M” on one side and a “30” on the other side.
During the investigation, law enforcement determined that Tunnell had been purchasing 300 to 500 pills at a time from his supplier and redistributing them in the Marion, Virginia area. On September 5, 2021, law enforcement executed a controlled purchase of approximately 100 pills from Tunnell for $1,700, and subsequently arrested him.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia announced the sentence today.
The Smyth County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit D. Pierce prosecuted the case.
Leader of Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy Sentenced to 35 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A North Carolina man, who previously resided in Wise County, Virginia when he organized a conspiracy to traffic multiple pounds of methamphetamine into Southwest Virginia, was sentenced today to 35 years in federal prison.
Daniel Eugene Rowland, 46, of Andrews, North Carolina was convicted on eight counts, including conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
“This defendant, and the other conspirators, trafficked multiple pounds of methamphetamine into Virginia, preying on the addiction of others for their own financial benefit,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “Today’s sentence should serve as an example that here in the Western District of Virginia we take drug trafficking seriously and will pursue justice appropriately.”
“There is no place in our communities for this type of criminal activity. We will continue to work cohesively with the United States Attorney’s Office and with our law enforcement partners to disrupt the illegal possession of firearms, distribution of narcotics and other acts of violence to make our communities safer,” ATF Washington Field Division Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson said.
Between July 2019 and December 2020, Rowland structured a conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine from Atlanta into Southwest Virginia for redistribution by organizing co-defendants Jon Rollins, Jessica Robey, Austin Hammond, and others, to pool their money together in order to purchase large quantities of methamphetamine from co-defendants Eric Glass and Shane Cress.
On several occasions, Rowland traveled to Atlanta where he made multi-kilogram purchases of methamphetamine from Glass and Cress, paying $12,000 to $14,000 per kilogram for the drugs.
When he was arrested in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, Rowland was in possession of nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine, $32,500 in cash, digital scales, a loaded 9mm pistol, and additional ammunition.
Co-conspirators Justin Shane Cress and Cory Austin Hammond were each previously sentenced to 135 months incarceration for their roles in the conspiracy. In addition, Eric Matthew Glass was sentenced to 168 months in prison, Jessica Ann Robey was sentenced to 120 months, and Jonathan Adam Rollins was sentenced to 228 months.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force, the Holston River Regional Drug Task Force, and the Virginia State Police investigated the case, with assistance from the United States Marshal’s Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher prosecuted the case for the United States.
Former Veterinarian Pleads Guilty to Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
LYNCHBURG, Va. – A Madison Heights, Virginia man and former veterinarian pleaded guilty to a pair of misdemeanor drug charges related to his diversion of hydromorphone, an opioid drug also known under the trade name of “Dilaudid.”
Patrick Gries, 54, pleaded guilty last week to one count of adulteration of a drug held for sale after shipment in interstate commerce and one count of distribution of a controlled substance without a written prescription.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our partners at the FDA, and elsewhere, to ensure consumer products are stored and prescribed using the most safe and secure protocols possible,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “When individuals with access to controlled substances break those safety protocols, even for individual use, they must be held accountable.”
“The FDA oversees the U.S. drug supply to ensure that it is safe and effective, and those who knowingly tamper with medicines put the health of patients (whether they are human or animal) at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark S. McCormack, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office. “We will continue to protect the public health and bring to justice health care professionals who take advantage of their unique position and compromise their patients’ health and comfort by tampering with needed drugs.”
According to court documents, from 1994 through 2021, Gries practiced as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at a veterinary hospital in Amherst County, Virginia. The veterinary hospital held hydromorphone for sale and maintained supplies of hydromorphone for use in treating pain in the hospital’s animal patients following surgeries.
As the hospital’s primary surgeon, Gries had full access to the hospital’s supply of hydromorphone. Beginning in July 2020 and without a valid prescription, Gries diverted hydromorphone for personal use by withdrawing a portion of the hydromorphone from the vial and injecting it into himself. He would then replace the diverted portion of the hydromorphone with another substance, usually either saline or butorphonal, and then return the altered hydromorphone to the supply maintained by the hospital.
The Food and Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration - Diversion Control Division, and the Virginia State Police investigated the case.
Marion Man Sentenced for Attempted Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Marion, Virginia man was sentenced this week to 36 months in prison for attempted possession with the intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl.
Anthony Peter Arrindell, 20, ordered illegal fentanyl pills through the mail. Although they resembled pharmaceutical-grade oxycodone-hydrochloride pills, the pills that were mailed to Arrindell were inconsistent in size, shape, and color, indicating that they were counterfeit pills. Pills of this type are sometimes referred to as “Roxicodone,” “pressed,” or “M30” pills because they have an imprint of an “M” on one side and a “30” on the other side.
“Fentanyl, and other powerful opioids, continue to ravage Virginia communities as substance abuse disorder cases increase,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute those individuals who prey on the addictions of others and to support those struggling to overcome addiction.”
According to court documents, in early 2021, law enforcement began investigating a flood of illegal pill distribution in Smyth County, Virginia.
In June and July of last year, United States Postal Inspection Service investigators identified and intercepted two separate suspected drug parcels that were destined for Arrindell. In one parcel, investigators found roughly 1100 pressed fentanyl pills, and in the other they found more than 1,700 pressed fentanyl pills.
On August 16, 2021, investigators intercepted another suspected drug parcel sent to Arrindell that had the same California return address as the July parcel. Investigators conducted a controlled delivery of this parcel to the Post Office in Marion where Arrindell then came to collect the parcel. Upon leaving the Post Office, law enforcement confronted Arrindell and found roughly 200 pressed pills after opening the seized parcel in his possession.
The Smyth County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit D. Pierce prosecuted the case.
Marion Man Pleads Guilty in Mail-Ordered Fentanyl CaseRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – Kobe Malik Woods, 19, of Marion, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to one count of attempted possession with the intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl after ordering the drugs through the U.S. Mail.
According to court documents, in early 2021, law enforcement began investigating a flood of illegal pill distribution in Smyth County, Virginia. As part of the investigation, law enforcement intercepted a parcel shipped from California, addressed to Woods’ residence, that contained approximately 800 fentanyl pills.
Although they resembled pharmaceutical-grade oxycodone-hydrochloride pills, the pills that were mailed to Woods were inconsistent in size, shape, and color, indicating that they were counterfeit pills. Pills of this type are sometimes referred to as “Roxicodone,” “pressed,” or “M30” pills because they have an imprint of an “M” on one side and a “30” on the other side.
On June 28, 2021, law enforcement executed a controlled delivery of the parcel to Woods’ home in Marion, Virginia. While conducting surveillance on the residence, investigators observed a woman retrieve the package and take it inside the home.
When Woods returned home, investigators executed a search warrant on the home. Woods was detained after trying to flee the rear of the residence, and later admitted to law enforcement that he ordered the pills through Snapchat from a supplier in California.
Woods is scheduled to be sentenced on April 19, 2022 and faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh announced the guilty plea.
The Smyth County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit D. Pierce is prosecuting the case.
Big Stone Gap Woman Sentenced for Role in Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Big Stone Gap, Virginia woman, who conspired to traffic more than 500 grams of methamphetamine from Atlanta, Georgia into Southwest Virginia, was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison.
Jessica Ann Robey, 35, pleaded guilty in October 2021 to one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, between July 2019 and December 2020, Robey and others conspired to distribute methamphetamine in Southwest Virginia. During the course of the conspiracy, Robey purchased significant quantities of methamphetamine from Atlanta through co-conspirators Daniel Eugene Rowland and Jonathan Adam Rollins, and then sold the drugs throughout Lee and Wise Counties.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force, and the Virginia State Police investigated the case, with assistance from the United States Marshal’s Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher prosecuted the case.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Images of Child Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
A Virginia man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for possessing images of the sexual abuse of children.
Ian Andrew Zearley, 40, of Louisa County, pleaded guilty to possession of obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children in July 2021. According to court documents, Zearley committed the offense while on supervised release for a previous conviction for possession of child exploitation materials. Following his prior conviction, law enforcement was monitoring Zearley’s computer usage pursuant to the terms of his supervised release. During the monitoring, law enforcement discovered that Zearley searched terms consistent with child sexual abuse, including “real hardcore child porn” and “boys severely whipped and bleeding.” Zearley also authored two stories that described, in graphic detail, the rape and abuse of young boys.
When law enforcement thereafter searched Zearley’s house, they found, in his basement, business cards stating Zearley was the president of the “Pedophile Associates of America,” electric shock equipment, pepper spray, a ski mask and pellet gun. Officers also found a list of children’s names, their ages and how Zearley knew each child. Children’s items, such as diapers, bottles and toys were also found, and Zearley’s computer contained eight computer-generated images depicting child sexual abuse.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh for the Western District of Virginia made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case with support from the U.S. Probation Office and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Trial Attorney Charles Schmitz of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Rumsey of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Images of Child Sex AbuseRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A Virginia man was sentenced today to 180 months in prison for possessing images of the sexual abuse of children.
Ian Andrew Zearley, 40, of Louisa County, pleaded guilty to the charge in July 2021. According to court documents, Zearley committed the offense while on supervised release for a previous conviction for possession of child exploitation materials. Following his prior conviction, law enforcement was monitoring Zearley’s computer usage pursuant to the terms of his supervised release. During the monitoring, it was discovered that Zearley searched terms consistent with child sexual abuse, including “real hardcore child porn,” and “boys severely whipped and bleeding.” Zearley also authored two stories that described, in graphic detail, the rape and abuse of young boys.
When law enforcement thereafter searched Zearley’s house, they found, in his basement, business cards stating Zearley was the president of the “Pedophile Associates of America,” electric shock equipment, pepper spray, a ski mask, and pellet gun. Officers also found a list of children’s names, their ages, and how Zearley knew each child. Children’s items, such as diapers, bottles, and toys were also found, and Zearley’s computer contained eight computer-generated images of child sex abuse.
“One of the cornerstone missions of this United States Attorney’s Office is providing a safe haven for our children. Part of that mission is the prosecution of those who repeatedly show themselves to be a danger to children in our community,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “Mr. Zearley was on supervised release when he not only possessed images of the sexual abuse of children, but horrific tools that showed he was on the precipice of effectuating his violent fantasies towards children. I am grateful to the FBI, U.S. Probation Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service for bringing this defendant to justice before he could commit additional harm to our community.”
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh for the Western District of Virginia made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case with support from the U.S. Probation Office and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Trial Attorney Charles Schmitz of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Rumsey of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
Big Stone Gap Man Sentenced for Role in Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Big Stone Gap, Virginia man, who conspired with others to traffic more than 5,000 grams of methamphetamine from Atlanta, Georgia into Southwest Virginia, was sentenced today to 228 months in federal prison.
Jonathan Adam Rollins, 39, pleaded guilty in October 2021 to one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, between July 2019 and December 2020, Rollins conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine throughout Lee and Wise counties in Virginia. Rollins made trips from his home in Big Stone Gap to Atlanta, Georgia, to purchase multiple kilograms of methamphetamine at a time for approximately $12,000 per kilogram. He then transported the methamphetamine back to Southwest Virginia for further distribution to his co-defendants and others.
Co-conspirators Justin Shane Cress, 33, and Cory Austin Hammond, 23, were each previously sentenced to 135 months incarceration for their roles in the conspiracy. Earlier this week, Eric Matthew Glass, 36, was sentenced to 168 months in prison. Co-conspirators Daniel Eugene Rowland, 46, and Jessica Ann Robey, 35, will be sentenced later this month.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force, and the Virginia State Police investigated the case, with assistance from the United States Marshal’s Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher prosecuted the case.
Florida Man Sentenced for Role in Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A West Palm Beach, Florida man who formerly lived in Georgia was sentenced today to 168 months in federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy that trafficked the drug from Atlanta into Lee and Wise counties in Virginia.
Eric Matthew Glass, 36, pleaded guilty in October 2021 to one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, between July 2019 and December 2020, Glass conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine throughout Lee and Wise counties in Virginia. Glass was living in Atlanta at the time and was the primary source of supply in the charged conspiracy. He sold multi-kilogram quantities of methamphetamine at a time to his Virginia co-conspirators, for approximately $12,000 per kilogram. The methamphetamine was then taken back to Wise and Lee counties for further distribution. On at least one occasion, Glass instructed co-conspirator Daniel Rowland to wire money from the Food City in Wise, Virginia, to four persons located in Mexico, to pay for methamphetamine Rowland had obtained through Glass.
Co-conspirators Justin Cress and Cory Hammond were each previously sentenced to 135 months incarceration for their roles in the conspiracy. Co-conspirators Daniel Rowland, Jessica Robey, and Jonathan Rollins will be sentenced later this month.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force, and the Virginia State Police investigated the case, with assistant from the United States Marshal’s Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena Busscher prosecuted the case.
Virginia Man Sentenced over 12 years for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Bishop, Virginia man, who conspired with others to traffic more than 4,500 grams of methamphetamine from Georgia and Tennessee into Lee County, Virginia, was sentenced today to 151 months in federal prison.
Bradley Allen Doss, 36, pleaded guilty in September 2021 to one count of possessing with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of possession of a stolen firearm.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is grateful for the coordinated, multi-agency investigation efforts of our law enforcement partners and remains firmly committed to prosecuting those who traffic in large quantities of methamphetamine that fuel the devastating addiction epidemic blanketing our Nation,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today.
According to court documents, a search warrant conducted at Doss’s residence on May 14, 2021 resulted in authorities finding over 4,500 grams of methamphetamine, $46,716 in cash, and multiple firearms. One of the firearms, a Ruger rifle, was found to be stolen.
Doss admitted to purchasing significant quantities of methamphetamine for further distribution from sources in Georgia and Tennessee.
The Tazewell County Drug Task Force, the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia State Police, the Tazewell County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher prosecuted the case.
Chiropractor Sentenced for Unlawful Distribution of Steroid-like DrugsRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A New Jersey chiropractor was sentenced to eight months of imprisonment for distributing steroid-like drugs as purported dietary supplements, the Department of Justice announced today.
Nicholas Andrew Puccio, 41, of Columbus, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in June 2021 to distributing unapproved new drugs with the intent to defraud and mislead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and consumers. In connection with his sentence, Puccio paid a forfeiture money judgment of $150,000 related to proceeds from his sales of illicit products. U.S. District Judge James P. Jones of the Western District of Virginia also ordered Puccio to pay a $10,000 fine.
In pleading guilty, Puccio admitted that, from 2016 to 2020, he marketed drugs as “dietary supplements” to the body-building and fitness community. The purported supplements included a product labeled as containing ostarine, a type of synthetic steroid known as a Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM). The FDA has warned against the use of SARMs, including stating in a 2017 warning letter to another firm that SARMs have been linked to life-threatening reactions, like liver toxicity, and that they have the potential to increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
“The public – and especially athletes – need to know and understand the risks associated with taking drugs labeled as dietary supplements. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia will continue to pursue criminal charges and seek to hold accountable those who choose to profit from selling unapproved drugs while recklessly disregarding the health risks to the consumers.”
The FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Ramseyer for the Western District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Speare Hodges of the Department of Justice Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch prosecuted the case.
Virginia Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Defraud CARES Act Unemployment FundRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Pound, Virginia man, who admitted to conspiring with others to defraud the government of nearly $500,000 in pandemic-related unemployment benefits, was sentenced today to 102 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution.
Jeffrey R. Tackett, 30, and his co-conspirators, concocted a scheme to gather personal identification information and then submit unemployment claims to the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) website for individuals who were known to be ineligible to receive pandemic unemployment benefits, including various inmates in Virginia Department of Corrections’ facilities.
“While Virginians were battling a global pandemic, this defendant and his co-conspirators were busy defrauding the federal and state unemployment system of nearly $500,000 in much-needed benefits,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “I am grateful for the collaborative work of the Department of Labor-Office of the Inspector General, IRS, and the Norton and Russell County authorities in bringing this conspiracy to justice.”
“Jeffrey Tackett engaged in a criminal scheme in which he and his co-conspirators filed fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment assistance for individuals he knew to be ineligible for benefits, including incarcerated individuals. The sentence today should serve as a deterrent for those contemplating committing similar crimes and signal the commitment of the U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General to work with its partners, such as the Virginia Employment Commission, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Attorney’s Office, to investigate this type of fraud,” stated Special Agent-In-Charge Syreeta Scott, Philadelphia Region, U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General.
“Stealing pandemic unemployment benefits and taking assistance away from taxpayers who are truly in need is a serious crime. Today, another co-conspirator faced the consequences of his actions,” said Darrell J. Waldon, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS-CI Washington D.C. Field Office. “We will continue to work with our investigative partners to seek out those who attempt to defraud the government.”
Conspiracy members lied on the VEC forms as part of the scheme to make filers appear eligible for benefits. Because pandemic unemployment benefits were paid weekly, each of those filings to the VEC website re-verified and re-certified the false statements on numerous occasions throughout the scheme.
Tackett conspired with others, including his brother, Gregory Tackett, and Gregory’s girlfriend, Leelyn Danielle Chykta, to collect personal identification information of more than 35 other co-conspirators, including 15 inmates in the custody of the Virginia Department of Corrections, and then filed false claims that resulted in payments totaling more than $499,000.
Both Chytka and Gregory Tackett were sentenced last summer to 108 months in prison apiece for their roles in the conspiracy.
The Department of Labor-Office of the Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Norton Police Department, and the Russell County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Murphy prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Two Sentenced for Falsifying MSHA Training FormsRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – Dustin Fannon and Bryan Bouton were sentenced in United States District Court in Abingdon, Virginia, this week for falsifying a Mine Safety and Health Administration [MSHA] training form designed to reflect mandated annual safety training for miners. Bouton also was sentenced for lying to MSHA special investigators about his role in falsifying the official training document.
Bouton, 35, of Wise County, was sentenced to three months in prison for his role in creating the false training document and for lying about it when he was interviewed by special investigators.
Fannon, 35, of Wise County, Virginia, was sentenced today to four months’ home detention for submitting a falsified MSHA training form showing he had received training that he had not attended or received.
“The Department of Justice is committed to protecting the safety of our country’s miners,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “Working with our partners at the MSHA and the Department of Labor, we will continue to investigate and prosecute those who put coal miners in harm by ignoring critical health and safety training measures.”
“Without adequate training, miners pose a risk to themselves and others,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Jeannette Galanis. “Mine operators and MSHA work hard to ensure every miner receives the training needed to keep them safe and to ensure safety throughout the mines. Preventing falsification of training documents is critical to ensure the health and safety of the mining industry’s most precious resource: the miner.”
“Falsifying Mine Act records is a crime,” said Solicitor of Labor Seema Nanda. “As this case shows, the Department of Labor will not hesitate to use all of the tools in our toolbox to protect miners, including working with the Department of Justice to seek criminal penalties where appropriate.”
In August 2016, Fannon attempted to apply for a position with a mining company that required him to show that he had received annual MSHA safety training. Fannon had not. Instead, he submitted a falsified form, signed by a known provider of the MSHA-required training. After his falsification was discovered, Fannon admitted he had not received the training but had been given the form by Bouton, who Fannon witnessed filling out the form and forging the name of the authorized trainer. Bouton, when interviewed about the incident, lied about his involvement to federal special investigators.
MSHA requires every miner receive at least eight hours of safety training every year on a variety of topics, including MSHA’s mandatory health and safety standards, transportation controls and communications systems, barricading, roof or ground control, ventilation, emergency evacuation and firefighting plans, first aid, electrical hazards, prevention of accidents, self-rescue and respiratory devices, explosives, mine gases, and health.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Norton Office of the Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Jason Grover from the Department of Labor prosecuted the case for the United States.
California Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of a Firearm, Driving Stolen CarRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A San Bernardino, California man, who stole a car in Kentucky and was stopped for speeding the following day in Marion, Virginia, was sentenced yesterday to 51 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.
Christian Joseph Laxson McCool, 29, pleaded guilty in September 2021.
“We must be diligent in our efforts to keep firearms out of the hands of those who have lost the right to possess a weapon,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “Safe, responsible gun ownership is paramount to reducing gun crime in our neighborhoods.”
“This is a positive result of a job well done by ATF and our partners who work tirelessly to combat violent gun crime within our communities. We will continue to use all of our resources to disrupt the illegal possession of firearms, distribution of narcotics and other acts of violence within our community,” said ATF Washington Field Division Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson.
According to court documents, McCool was stopped for speeding in Marion on December 27, 2020. At the time of the traffic stop, McCool was the only occupant and informed officers he did not have a license. However, he did admit to having a gun with him.
Following the officers’ commands, McCool exited the vehicle but fled before being taken into custody after a short pursuit on foot. The vehicle McCool was driving had been reported stolen out of Kentucky the day before, and officers located a loaded, 9mm pistol under the front seat. In addition, officers found a loaded 9mm magazine, two syringes, and a small baggie containing what appeared to be methamphetamine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Williamson, West Virginia Police Department, and the Marion Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher prosecuted the case.
Wise Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Traffic Methamphetamine from Atlanta, Georgia into Lee and Wise CountiesRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Wise, Virginia man was sentenced yesterday to 135 months in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.
Justin Shane Cress, 33, pleaded guilty in October 2021 to one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, between July 2019 and December 2020, Cress conspired with co-defendants Daniel Eugene Rowland, Jonathan Adam Rollins, Eric Matthew Glass, and others to distribute methamphetamine throughout Lee and Wise counties in Virginia. Cress served as a “middle-man,” facilitating multi-kilogram sales of methamphetamine between co-defendants in southwest Virginia and a source of supply in Atlanta, Georgia. Additionally, Cress directly distributed significant quantities of methamphetamine in Lee and Wise counties.
Co-defendant Cory Austin Hammond was previously sentenced to 135 months in prison for his role in the same conspiracy. The remaining co-conspirators are scheduled to be sentenced in federal court later this month.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, and the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena Busscher prosecuted the case.