NORFOLK, Va. - Robert Charles Beatty, 33, of Virginia Beach, Va., pleaded guilty today to charges in connection with distributing synthetic marijuana at a drug-involved premise.
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and Karl C. Colder, Resident Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by United States District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.
Beatty faces a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment when he is sentenced on September 6, 2013.
In a statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, the investigation began in July 2012 with information that the defendant was distributing synthetic marijuana in Virginia Beach. Surveillance was conducted at the residence of the defendant. Within 72 hours of the execution of a search warrant on Aug. 10, 2012, a confidential informant made a purchase of synthetic marijuana from the defendant at his residence on Garrison Place in Virginia Beach, Virginia. On Aug. 10, 2012, members of the VBPD/Special Investigations executed a search warrant at a residence on Garrison Place, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Located inside the residence was a large quantity of synthetic marijuana inside boxes, processed marijuana, pills, a digital scale, paperwork and paraphernalia. Approximately 61 kilogram of synthetic marijuana was seized under the brand/street names of: spice, G-13, Scooby Snacks, G-20, The Original Cloud 9, Mr. Happy, Atomic, California Dreams, Hypnotic, After Life, Guerrilla Warfare, Grape Ape, Down 2 Earth, Fairly Legal, and others. The defendant, after Miranda warnings, confessed to selling synthetic marijuana and prescription pills. The defendant also confessed that he had conspired to ship and to sell synthetic marijuana and split the proceeds with others. The defendant also admitted he maintained a drug-involved premise to manufacture, distribute, and use various controlled substances.
This case was investigated jointly by Drug Enforcement Administration and the Virginia Beach Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin M. Comstock is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
