NEWS RELEASE
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
John L. Brownlee 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 |
February 13, 2008
EIGHT MEMBERS OF DRUG RING INDICTED
United States Attorney John L. Brownlee announced today that Reynold George Samuels Jr., age 39, of Charlottesville and Waynesboro, Virginia, and seven other defendants were indicted by a federal Grand Jury sitting in Charlottesville, Virginia. The identity of the remaining defendants is sealed pending their arrests and appearances before a federal judge.
All of the accused were indicted on charges related to an alleged continuing criminal enterprise, headed by Reynold Samuels Jr., that distributed illegal drugs and pirated DVDs throughout the Western District of Virginia. Members of the group were also indicted for illegally possessing firearms and for specific distributions of controlled substances over the past five years.
The accused were charged in a 14-count indictment. All of the charges arose from a cooperative investigation involving the JADE Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Arrested today and charged was:
Reynold George Samuels Jr.: One count of conducting a continuing criminal enterprise, one count of drug conspiracy, two counts of distribution of marijuana, two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of felony copyright infringement.
The indictment alleges that from on or about December 21, 2001 and continuing until the date of the indictment, Reynold Samuels Jr. was the organizer, supervisor and leader of a criminal enterprise that possessed with the intent to distribute substances containing a detetable amount of cocaine hydrochloride, cocaine base and marijuana, commonly known as crack.
In addition, the indictment alleges that the enterprise, under the direction of Reynold Samuels, Jr. conspired to acquire and distribute fifty or more grams of cocaine base, also known as “crack”, 500 grams of cocaine hydrochloride, also known as powder cocaine, and more than 100 kilograms of marijuana.
The indictment also claims that Reynold Samuels Jr., between Aug. 1, 2007 and February 1, 2008, illegally copied and distributed copyrighted material in DVD format. During a 180-day period ten or more copies of one or more copyrighted works were distributed. The total retail value of those materials exceeded $2,500.
Furthermore, the indictment cites a number of firearm offenses by members of the enterprise.
Specifically, Reynold Samuels Jr., having already been convicted of a felony in the past, is prohibited from possessing a firearm. However, according to court documents, Reynold Samuels Jr. was found to be in possession of an Argentinean Model Hi-Power 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a Beretta Model PX4 “storm” 9 mm pistol, a Jennings model J-22 .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol and 28 live rounds of .223 caliber ammunition, which is designed to function in an automatic or semi-automatic carbine or rifle.
If convicted on all counts, Reynolds faces a mandatory life sentence and a maximum fine of $4,000,000.
United States Attorney John L. Brownlee noted that the case demonstrated the necessity for, and effectiveness, of cooperative investigations.
“Only an investigative team this diverse and this dedicated could have completed an investigation of this complexity and variety, ranging from marijuana purchases to firearms violations to felony copyright infringements,” Attorney Brownlee said.
Assistant United States Attorney Rusty Fitzgerald will prosecute the case for the United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Virginia.
A Grand Jury indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.