A 37-count federal indictment was partially unsealed last week after the DEA announced 19 people were arrested on federal drug trafficking charges in the Charlottesville area.
The indictment, viewed by the Watchful Eye, alleges that from February 2023 through August 2023, the accused conspired with each other and others to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in and around the Charlottesville region.
Under Operation Rock Bottom, “for the last few months, investigators have been meticulously developing evidence to include affidavits in support of search warrants as well as federal charges,” said Chris Kavanaugh, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia during a press conference after last week’s roundup.
Those search warrants resulted in the seizure of 20 firearms, which included sawed off shotgun and assault rifles, 1.7 kilos of powder fentanyl, 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, a pound of meth, 5,000 pressed fentanyl pills and over $70,000 in bulk cash, Kavanaugh also said.
“In one day, the DEA, Virginia State Police, and our partner agencies seized enough dosage units of fentanyl to kill every person in the city of Charlottesville and Albemarle County five times over,” DEA assistant special agent in charge Chris Goumenis said in a LinkedIn post about the operation.
Although 19 arrests were announced, the DEA's media release only provides the names and charges against 15 people. They are :
- DuShaun Lamont Gregory, 36, Henrico County, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Tyquane Pertell Gregory, 27, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Fields Devon Landon, 29, of Charlottesville, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, four counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and one count of distribution of fentanyl.
- Bobby Eugene Christmas, 36, of Charlottesville, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and five counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Michael Edward Cornett, 29, of Charlottesville, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and three counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Antone Laron Harris, 41, of Charlottesville, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, and four counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Brooks Lorenzo Woodfolk, 41, of Charlottesville, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and two counts of distribution of heroin, and one count of distribution of fentanyl.
- Ashlee Renee Morris, 37, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and three counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Shaheim Taishaun Michie, 18, of Arlington, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, one count of possession with the intent to distribute and distributing methamphetamine and cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- John Ellis Turner III, 42, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and four counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Gary Wayne Woodson, 66, of Crozet, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, and three counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Caleb Andrew Herndon, 26, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Dashard Brown, 29, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Cedric Trent, 25, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Dustin Lee Welch is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
“This indictment represents the first step in a federal, local, and state partnership under the department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative that will bring increased safety and security to the Charlottesville, Albemarle, and University of Virginia region,” Kavanaugh said.
According to the DEA, the parties involved in this effort included:
- Virginia State Police 3A Regional Drug and Gang Task Force
- DEA,
- Albemarle County Police Department,
- Department of Homeland Security- HSI,
- City of Charlottesville Police Department,
- Greene County Sheriff’s Office,
- Nelson County Sheriff’s Office,
- Fluvanna County Sheriff’s Office,
- Henrico County Police Department,
- United States Marshal’s Service
- The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Officesof Charlottesville and Albemarle
- Charlottesville Emergency Services
- Virginia National Guard
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