By Bill Archer
TAZEWELL, Va. — Officials in Tazewell County released the names Thursday of 17 additional individuals who were indicted by a Tazewell County grand jury on Jan. 5.
“These indictments were sealed until the individuals could be picked up,” Dennis Lee, Tazewell County Commonwealth’s Attorney said.
In addition to unsealing the indictments, Lee announced that four individuals who pleaded guilty last month at U.S. District Court in Abingdon for their roles in a multi-state drug ring will be sentenced at 11 a.m., on March 15, in Abingdon, according to Lee who serves as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Western District of Virginia.
The four included James Curtis “Geesh” Hylton, 65, of Richlands, Va., who pleaded guilty to distribution of oxycodone, as well as the use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Co-defendants in the case included Lawrence Allen “Big Al,” aka “Carbo” Rife, 52 of Richlands; John Arthur Weatherman, 33, of King, N.C.; and James Norman Miller, 55 of Harriman, Tenn.
U.S. District Judge James P. Jones of the Western District of Virginia heard all four pleas on Dec. 15, 2009. Hylton faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and as much as a $1 million fine, while Rife, Weatherman and Miller each face as much as 20 years in prison and also a $1 million fine.
Lee said in the press release that he introduced evidence during the guilty plea hearing revealing that Hylton and Rife sold about $600,000 worth of oxycodone in the Richlands area during a 5-year period. Lee stated that Hylton obtained the oxycodone from sources in Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
According to Lee’s press release, agents of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms arrested Miller, and worked with him to set up a sting operation in Wytheville, Va., involving Weatherman. Lee said that the case moved quickly through the courts.
The sealed indictments on the other people who are named on state charges follow. Lee stated that the indictments represent the culmination of 12 months of collaborative investigative work by the Tazewell County Narcotics Task Force, Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office, Richlands Police Department, Tazewell Police Department, Bluefield, Va., Police Department, Virginia State Police. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Southern Regional (West Virginia) Drug & Violent Crime Task Force.
Indictments were unsealed Thursday on the following individuals:
Franklin Rufus Bevins, 28, Richlands, Va., distribution of Methadone, a Schedule II controlled substance (three counts).
Barry Keith Brown, 48, Richlands, Va., distribution of Hydrocodone, a Schedule III controlled substance, distribution of Buprenorphine, a Schedule III controlled substance, conspiracy to sell or distribute Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, distribution of Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance (two counts).
Carl Silas Brown, 40, Richlands, Va., conspiracy to sell or distribute Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, distribution of Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance.
Marvin Lloyd Crouse, 77, 78 or 75, Bandy, Va., distribution of Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, distribution of Hydrocodone, a Schedule III controlled substance (two counts), sale or distribution of marijuana, second offense (misdemeanor), distribution of Alprazolam, Schedule IV controlled substance, distribution of Buprenorphine, a Schedule III controlled substance.
Rafeal Jevon Cuthbertson aka “Rafe”, 28, Morgantown, N.C., conspiracy to sell or distribute Cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance (four counts), distribution of Cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance (four counts).
Jeffrey Curtis Dean, 40, Wise, Va., conspiracy to sell or distribute Methadone, a Schedule II controlled substance (three counts), distribution of Methadone, a Schedule II controlled substance (three counts).
Shona Lea Dean, 42, Wise, Va., conspiracy to sell or distribute Methadone, a Schedule II controlled substance (three counts), distribution of Methadone, a Schedule II controlled substance (three counts).
Jasmin Anastasia Khatib Dillon, 22, North Tazewell, Va., distribution of Buprenorphine, a Schedule III controlled substance (two counts).
Whittany Leetta Hill aka Whittany Leetta Dowdy, 21, Cedar Bluff, Va., conspiracy to sell or distribute Oxycodone, a Schedule II Controlled substance, distribution of Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance; and distribution of Orycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance.
Jennifer Lynn Hogston aka Jennifer Lynn Delaney, 48, Richlands, Va., conspiracy to sell or distribute Methadone, a Schedule II controlled substance, distribution of Methadone, a Schedule II controlled substance (two counts), conspiracy to sell or distribute Hydrocodone, a Schedule III controlled substance, distribution of Hydrocodone, a Schedule III controlled substance.
Tommy Harlis Keen, 62, Cedar Bluff, Va., distribution of Alprazolam, a Schedule IV controlled substance, conspiracy to sell or distribute Methadone, a Schedule II controlled substance, distribution of Methadone, a Schedule II controlled substance.
Buskel Zane Keene, 30, Jewell Ridge, Va., distribution of Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, distribution of Methadone, a Schedule II controlled substance (two counts).
Joshua Adam Lawson, 28, Bristol, Va., conspiracy to sell or distribute an imitation controlled substance, distribution of an imitation controlled substance, conspiracy to sell or distribute Alprazolam, a Schedule IV controlled substance, distribution of Alprazolam, a Schedule IV controlled substance.
Robin Lee Peery, 42, Bandy, Va., conspiracy to sell or distribute Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, distribution of Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance.
Roy David Ratliff aka “Poochie”, 45, Cedar Bluff, Va., distribution of Methadone, a Schedule II controlled substance (three counts), distribution of Hydrocodone, a Schedule III controlled substance (two counts).
Robert Andrew Tatum II, 33, Richlands, Va., distribution of Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance.
Jeremy James White, 28, Bristol, Va., conspiracy to sell or distribute an imitation controlled substance, distribution of an imitation controlled substance, conspiracy to sell or distribute Alprazolam, a Schedule IV controlled substance, distribution of Alprazolam, a Schedule IV controlled substance.
