To date, the collaborative effort has resulted in 23 defendants being convicted of charges related to the distribution of methamphetamine and firearms possession in Southwest Virginia and North Carolina.
“As this case indicates, we are committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to target individuals and organizations who traffic methamphetamine,” U.S. Attorney Cullen stated. “Methamphetamine and firearms are a particularly dangerous and deadly combination, and one that we will not tolerate. I commend the ATF and our local partners in Southwest Virginia for their leadership and persistence in addressing this problem.”
“ATF is committed to ridding American streets of crime, not just in large cities but also in the rural areas that are often hit hardest by the scourge of illegal firearms and drugs,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Thomas L. Chittum III. “This investigation is a great example of how we work with our law enforcement partners to dismantle criminal organizations and protect the communities they infest. It should serve as a reminder to others that no matter where you are, if you commit a federal crime, we will do everything we can to put you behind bars.”
According to evidence presented at numerous hearings by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee, Long was a member of a drug trafficking organization responsible for the transportation of large quantities of methamphetamine from Greensboro, N.C. for distribution in Galax, Va., Grayson County, Va., Carroll County, Va., and Surry County, N.C. Additionally, many of the members of the organization possessed and used firearms to further their drug trafficking activities.
As a result of the investigation, the following defendants have been sentenced:
1. Timothy Bowman, 46, of Cana, Va., to 300 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
2. Amy Hoyt, 46, of Mt. Airy, N.C., to 228 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking.
3. Grandy Nester, 33, of Pilot Mt., N.C., to 295 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking.
4. Sanson P. Rodriguez, 56, of Lexington, N.C., to 264 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
5. Amber Bilyeu,, a.k.a. “Rose” 32, of Mt. Airy, N.C., to 252 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
6. Karen Hawks, 45, of Low Gap, N.C., to 262 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
7. Walter Sexton, a.k.a. “Butch”, 64, of Galax, Va. to 87 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
8. Brittany Cochran, 28, of Fries, Va. to 87 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
9. Annette Freeman, 32, of Cana, Va., to 235 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
10. Brad Hunley, 29, of Galax, Va., to 134 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
11. Shawanna Phipps, 37, of Independence, Va., to 120 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
12. Brian Graff, 33, of Independence, Va., to 120 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
13. Riley Alley, 26, of Cana, Va., to 52 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
14. Calvin Jermaine Maxwell, 34, of Galax, Va., to 188 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
15. David Norman, 29, of Galax, Va., to 57 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
16. Jonathan Choate, 34, of Independence, Va., to 240 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
17. Kevin Humphries, 38, of Cana, Va., to 120 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
18. Jackie Christopher Parsons, 39, of Mouth of Wilson, Va., to 120 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
19. Jessilyn Jones, 26, of Independence, Va., to 70 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
20. Vickie Grose, 48, of Galax, Va., to 51 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
21. Stacey Jerome Sawyers, 30, of Galax, Va., to 57 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
22. Travis Brian Anders, 35, of Sugar Grove, Va., to 158 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Surry County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Galax Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division, United States Marshals Service, and the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee prosecuted the case for the United States.
-- Western District of Virginia