SAN DIEGO – Egisto Salerno, a medical doctor practicing in San Diego, pleaded guilty to opioid distribution in federal court today, admitting that he signed bogus prescriptions for multiple deceased or incarcerated patients. According to his plea agreement, Salerno, 75, illegally distributed 78,544 hydrocodone pills. Hydrocodone is an opioid pain...

ABINGDON, Va. – Two members of a drug distribution organization that trafficked methamphetamine, heroin, oxycodone, cocaine, and other drugs from Georgia into Southwest Virginia were recently sentenced in federal court on drug conspiracy charges. In a hearing this week, Roy Lee Dykes, 61, of Watkinsville, Ga., formerly of Big Stone...

RICHMOND, Va. – A Mecklenburg County man was sentenced today to more than 15 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute over 27 kilograms of cocaine. According to court documents, Vincent Maurice Lewis, 45, arranged for the delivery of 28 kilograms of cocaine from Texas to Virginia. On...

BALTIMORE – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett today sentenced Paul Alexander, aka David Paul Hayes, aka “Shorty”, age 47, of Hanover, Maryland, to 35 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, on five federal charges including conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, two counts of possession with...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Washington, D.C., man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl, in addition to armed drug trafficking. According to court documents, Phillip Thurston Mace, 38, sold heroin and fentanyl to an undercover police detective in Fairfax county during the course of several months. Mace...

RICHMOND, Va. – Over 160 law enforcement, medical, education, and community services professionals gathered today at Virginia Commonwealth University for the Silent No More Overdose Symposium. “The coming together of this highly respected and accomplished group of professionals is incredibly impressive, but there is still much more work to be...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Gainesville man pleaded guilty today to selling synthetic cannabinoids—commonly known as “spice” or “K2”—from the gas station he owned and operated with his business partner in Fauquier County. “Spice is a toxic mix of dangerous chemicals that can be deadly,” said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern...

NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for his role in a heroin trafficking conspiracy that crossed most of South Hampton Roads. According to court documents, Ingram Cox, 35, regularly received heroin from co-defendant Kyam Washington, which Cox then sold to local...

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Richard Mansfield, a Harrisonburg man who was previously convicted of distributing a fatal mixture of heroin and fentanyl, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Harrisonburg to nine years in prison, United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen announced. Mansfield, 39, pleaded guilty in September 2018 to...

ABINGDON, Va. – A Bristol, Virginia man pleaded guilty last week in U.S. District Court in Abingdon to charges related to the distribution of methamphetamine and firearms. David Benjamin Shaffer, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and...