United States Drug Enforcement Administration

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.

Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Washington Division and United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh announced the sentence today.

The Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) 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.

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