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 |
July 24, 2008
PAIR OF COUSINS PLEAD GUILTY FOR CONSPIRING TO
DISTRIBUTE CRACK COCAINE
Acting United States Attorney Julia C. Dudley announced today that Deric Leander Crowder, age 31, of Halifax, Virginia and Chevelle Crowder, age 39, of South Boston, Virginia, pled guilty today in United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Danville to conspiring to distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine.
“For years, these two men have infected our communities with the poison they sold,” Acting United States Attorney Julia C. Dudley said today. “These guilty pleas are a tremendous step forward in making our streets safer for our friends and neighbors.”
During today’s hearing, Deric and Chevelle Crowder both plead guilty to one count of being part of a conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of crack cocaine. Both men were indicted in a four-count indictment on this and other possession and distribution charges in February of 2008.
According to evidence presented by Assistant United States Attorney Charlene Day, the Crowders sold crack cocaine throughout the Halifax County Region.
The maximum statutory penalty faced by both Deric and Chevelle Crowder is life imprisonment and/or a fine of $4,000,000. Both men will be sentenced on October 28, 2008.
The investigation of the case was conducted by Drug Enforcement Administration and the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Charlene R. Day is prosecuting the case for the United States.