California man gets 18 years for trafficking fentanyl into Southwest Virginia

ABINGDON, Va. (WJHL) – A man from Buena Park, California was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to funneling thousands of fentanyl pills into Southwest Virginia.

According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Robert Contreras, 24, also known as “Quill,” previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.


Seven Charged in Multi-State Heroin and Meth Trafficking Conspiracy


Lee County Sheriff confiscates one pound of meth, more than $3,000 in cash

LEE COUNTY, Va. (WYMT) - The Lee County Sheriff announced an arrest that led to the confiscation of approximately one pound of meth and more than three thousand dollars in cash.

Sheriff Gary Parsons said a drug task force investigation at highway 421 North near the Kentucky State Line.

Three suspects were arrested on the scene. The sheriff’s release said the meth that was taken is worth almost $50,000.

The three people arrested were Michael Vineyard, 24, from Ohio, Stephen Elliott, 44 of Loyall Kentucky, and Carlton Adams, 25, of Ohio.


‘The totals are staggering’: More than 33 pounds of meth, $125K seized during 4 Tazewell County arrests

TAZEWELL COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) – Investigators say the arrests of four individuals in Tazewell County led to the seizure of a huge amount of money and illegal substances.

According to a statement from Chris Plaster, the Tazewell County commonwealth’s attorney, the arrests came as a result of a months-long investigation. The Tazewell County Narcotics Task Force began “Operation Mouse Trap” in January, Plaster said.


Jury recommends two life sentences for Floyd County man convicted on drug, gun charges


Federal grand jury indicts 21 on drug, other charges

ABINGDON, Va. — A federal grand jury indicted 21 Southwest Virginia residents Tuesday on charges of conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to the indictment, the 21 defendants conspired to distribute methamphetamine in Lee and Wise counties and elsewhere in Southwest Virginia between July 2016 and May 2019.

The indictment was unsealed Tuesday following the arrest of five of the defendants, while some others were previously taken into custody, according to a written statement. Four unnamed defendants remain wanted by authorities.


Four More Defendants Sentenced in Drug Conspiracy that Trafficked Crystal Ice, Oxycodone and Other Drugs into Virginia from Georgia

Abingdon, VIRGINIA – Four members of a drug distribution organization that trafficked methamphetamine, heroin, oxycodone, cocaine, and other drugs from Georgia into Southwest Virginia were sentenced recently in federal court on drug conspiracy charges, United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen and Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring announced.


Wise doctor, spouse, employee face drug, fraud charges

WISE — A Wise County physician, his wife and an employee face a deluge of drug and fraud charges in indictments handed down this week by a grand jury.

The indictments follow a raid by officers while executing a search warrant in March at the offices of Dr. Michael B. Ford, 74, operating a medical practice (the Appalachian Medical Clinic in Appalachia) with his wife, Una Faye Ford, 68.


Drug sweep nabs locals

Local, state and federal authorities on March 1 conducted a “takedown” of a drug trafficking operation involving local residents and three Georgia residents.

Those arrested, according to Wise County/Norton Commonwealth Attorney Chuck Slemp, were Rebecca Owens and Christy Doffermyer, both of Big Stone Gap; Terry Cook, of Lee County; and Roy Lee Dykes, Leila Valetta Hector and Timothy Terrell Peek, all of Georgia.


Coeburn Doctor Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud, Distributing Ritalin