NEWS RELEASE
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
Julia C. Dudley Acting United States Attorney Brian McGinn Public Affairs Specialist |
BB&T Building 310 1st Street, S.W., Room 906 Roanoke, Virginia 24011 (540) 857-2974 FAX (540) 857-2179 |
May 20, 2008
LEADER OF WASHINGTON COUNTY METHAMPHETAMINE RING SENTENCED TO MORE THAN 27 YEARS IN PRISON
Acting United States Attorney Julia C. Dudley announced today that Lonnie Edward Malone, age 57, of Abingdon, Virginia, was sentenced in United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Abingdon for charges related to drug trafficking and weapons offenses.
Malone was sentenced to 27 years and six months of Federal imprisonment this week after he previously pled guilty to one count of possession of a sawed-off shotgun in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and one count of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
“Individuals who choose to sell illegal narcotics, and do so while brandishing a firearm, serve as a major threat to the safety and well-being of our community and will be prosecuted for those crimes,” Acting United States Attorney Julia C. Dudley said today. “Today’s sentencing is a great example of law enforcement agencies working together to remove dangerous individuals from our community.”
Malone’s co-defendant, Valerie Renee Chapman, was previously sentenced to a term of three years in prison for her participation in the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
According to evidence presented at an earlier hearing by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Lee, a search warrant was executed at Malone’s residence on Spoon Gap Road in Washington County, Virginia on April 15, 2007 by members of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia State Police, the Abingdon Police Department and agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration.
During that search, agents seized numerous loaded firearms, 37 grams of methamphetamine, and $53,037 in United States currency. One of the firearms seized was a sawed-off shotgun. Additionally, agents seized numerous records reflecting Malone’s participation in the distribution of narcotics.
Further investigation by law enforcement agents revealed that Malone and Chapman had distributed more than five kilograms of methamphetamine in Washington and Smyth counties between January 2005 and April 2006. It was also determined that Malone had numerous sub-distributors that worked for him in distributing methamphetamine.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Abingdon Police Department, the Virginia State Police, the Bristol Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bristol Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee of the United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Virginia, prosecuted the case.