Final defendant convicted in Operation Leaving Las Vegas,
which charged 32 individuals
Abingdon, VIRGINIA – The final defendant charged in
Operation Leaving Las Vegas, a 32-defendant conspiracy that trafficked
methamphetamine and other drugs between Las Vegas and Southwest Virginia, was
convicted earlier this week in U.S. District Court in Abingdon following a
two-day jury trial. United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen made the
announcement.
Kevin Thomas Seigler, 36, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was
convicted on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 of one count of conspiracy to distribute
500 grams or more of methamphetamine and conspiracy to use a communication
facility to facilitate a drug-trafficking offense.
“As a result of Operation Leaving Las Vegas, a massive
drug-trafficking organization, which operated in Virginia and Nevada, has been
dismantled and nearly three dozen of its members are serving lengthy terms in
federal prison,” United States Attorney Cullen stated today. “I am grateful to
our federal, state, and local partners for their dedication and commitment to
this important investigation over the last three years. We will continue our joint efforts to reduce
the scourge of illegal drugs in Southwest Virginia.”
“ATF is committed to working with our partners to reduce
violent crime and keep our communities safe by removing illegal firearms and
dangerous drugs from our streets,” said Special Agent in Charge Ashan M.
Benedict, ATF Washington Field Division. “We will do everything in our power to
dismantle organizations like these and put these individuals behind bars where
they belong.”
“The successful culmination of this investigation is a prime
example of what can be accomplished when federal, state, and local law
enforcement agencies work together side by side. DEA will continue to work with our law enforcement
partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia in
order to combat the flow of dangerous drugs into Southwest Virginia and to hold
those individuals and organizations that attempt to do so accountable for their
actions,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Jesse R. Fong.
In late 2016, numerous law enforcement agencies, led by the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement
Administration, charged 32 individuals with conspiring to commit money
laundering and to distribute methamphetamine, oxycodone, and buprenorphine from
Las Vegas into Southwest Virginia, Eastern Kentucky and elsewhere. Evidence presented at trial demonstrated that
Seigler was a member of the organization and was responsible for supplying
methamphetamine that was shipped to Southwest Virginia. In March 2016, the Las Vegas Metropolitan
Police Department seized two pounds of methamphetamine that had been sold by
Seigler to another conspirator and also recovered $19,669 in U.S. currency from
Seigler’s residence. Seigler was also
previously convicted of failing to appear for a trial scheduled in May 2017.
A sentencing hearing has been set for May 6, 2019. Seigler faces a mandatory minimum sentence of
ten years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of up to life imprisonment.
In addition, he faces $10,250,000 in fines.
To date, all 32 charged defendants have been convicted of federal drug
conspiracy and money laundering charges and all but Seigler have been
sentenced. Additionally, throughout the
course of the investigation, more than $60,000 in currency was seized and money
judgments totaling an additional $995,074 have been ordered.
As a result of the investigation, the following defendants
have been sentenced:
Richard Henry
Kayian was sentenced to 324 months imprisonment and ordered to pay a forfeiture
money judgment in the amount of $743,441.52, for one count of conspiracy to
distribute 500 grams of methamphetamine and oxycodone, and one count of money
laundering.
Stephen Cino, 52,
Henderson, Nevada – 292 months imprisonment and ordered to pay a forfeiture
money judgment of $251,633.00 for one count of conspiracy to distribute 500
grams or more of methamphetamine, oxycodone and buprenorphine, and one count of
money laundering.
Tracey Allen
Callihan, 49, Glade Spring, Virginia -
324 months imprisonment and ordered to pay a forfeiture money judgment of
$30,000.00 for one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of
methamphetamine and oxycodone, and one count of money laundering.
Brandon Lee Stone,
33, Abingdon, Virginia – 300 months imprisonment for one count of conspiracy to
distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, oxycodone and buprenorphine,
and one count of money laundering.
Misael Reyes
Tajimaroa, 32, Spokane, Washington – 192 months imprisonment for one count of
conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, oxycodone and
buprenorphine, and one count of money laundering.
Bradley Lee
Chapman, 28, Bristol, Virginia - 135 months imprisonment for one count of
conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, oxycodone and buprenorphine, and one
count of money laundering.
Kaitlynn Elizabeth
Chapman, 26, Bristol, Virginia – 72 months imprisonment for one count of
conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, oxycodone and buprenorphine, and one
count of money laundering.
John Williams, 50,
Glade Spring, Virginia – 18 months imprisonment and a $2,500 fine for one count
of conspiracy to use a communications facility to facilitate a drug trafficking
offense.
Rebecca Williams,
51, Abingdon, Virginia – 108 months imprisonment for one count of conspiracy to
distribute methamphetamine.
Heather Michelle
Sullins, 27, Abingdon, Virginia – 30 months imprisonment for one count of
conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, oxycodone and buprenorphine.
Alex Michael
Kayian, 23, Bristol, Virginia - 72 months imprisonment for one count of
conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, oxycodone and buprenorphine, and one
count of money laundering.
Ralph Stewart
Dingus, 27, Abingdon, Virginia - 37 months imprisonment for one count of
conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
John Dewayne
Farmer, 32, Abingdon, Virginia - 240 months imprisonment for one count of
conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of money laundering.
Lola Virginia
Farmer, 52, Abingdon, Virginia - 87 months imprisonment for one count of
conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Shauna Nicole
Chafin, 36, Abingdon, Virginia - 97 months imprisonment for one count of
conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, oxycodone and
buprenorphine.
William Wesley
Fleenor, 29, Abingdon, Virginia - 79 months imprisonment for one count of
conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Jeffrey Nathaniel
Gobble, 25, Abingdon, Virginia - 46 months imprisonment for one count of
conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Preston Kyle
Lawson, 21, Abingdon, Virginia - 46 months imprisonment for one count of
conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Gary Chapman, 47,
Clay City, Kentucky - 151 months imprisonment for one count of conspiracy to
distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Daniel Corey
Cantrell, 25, Abingdon, Virginia - 37 months imprisonment for one count of
conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Tanner Morris
Curd, 23, Meadowview, Virginia - 84 months imprisonment for one count of
conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Amy Lorene Moser,
52, Abingdon, Virginia -100 months imprisonment for one count of conspiracy to
distribute methamphetamine.
Steven Salyer, 27,
Abingdon, Virginia - 87 months imprisonment for one count of conspiracy to
distribute methamphetamine.
Brandon Cody
Trivett, 23, Abingdon, Virginia - 30 months imprisonment for one count of
conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Brian Edward
Widener, 30, Abingdon, Virginia – 46 months imprisonment for one count of
conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Justin Lowe, 24,
Abingdon, Virginia – 41 months imprisonment for one count of conspiracy to
distribute methamphetamine.
Lamar Skipper, 27,
Chilhowie, Virginia - four years probation for one count of conspiracy to
distribute oxycodone and one count of money laundering
Gary Brandon
Childress, 25, Abingdon, Virginia - three years probation. for one count of
conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.
Austin Obranovic
Boardwine, 24, Abingdon, Virginia - four years probation for one count of
conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and buprenorphine.
Caleb Dean, 28,
Damascus, Virginia – 48 months imprisonment for one count of conspiracy to
distribute methamphetamine and oxycodone.
Charlene Hale, 25,
Bristol, Tennessee – four years probation for one count of conspiracy to
distribute methamphetamine and oxycodone
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Drug
Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and
Explosives, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, United States
Marshals Service, Virginia State Police, Washington County, Virginia Sheriff’s
Office, Abingdon Police Department, Marion Police Department, Smyth County,
Virginia Sheriff’s Office and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Cagle Juhan
and Zachary T. Lee are prosecuting the case for the United States.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment