United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NORFOLK, Va. - Shawn H. Spencer, 33, of Virginia Beach, Va., pleaded guilty today to conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and possess controlled substances.

Karl C. Colder, Special Agent in Charge for Drug Enforcement Administration’(DEA) Washington Field Division; Dana J. Boente, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Police Chief Jim A. Cervera, Virginia Beach Police Department, made the announcement after sentencing by United States Magistrate Judge Lawrence R. Leonard.

Spencer was indicted on April 9, 2014 by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracyand maintaining drug-involved premises. Spencer faces a maximum penalty of 40 years when he is sentenced on August 7, 2014.

According to a statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, from approximately June of 2012 to November 2013, Spencer and others manufactured, distributed and possessed heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana and alprazolam.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Virginia Beach Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Comstock is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.