ROANOKE, VIRGINIA - A pair of conspirators who were part of a group that trafficked methamphetamine from Arizona to Roanoke before distributing it throughout the region were sentenced today in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Roanoke, United States Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr. announced today.
Jose Manuel Morales-Hernandez, 34, of Roanoke, Va., previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. Today in District Court he was sentenced to 95 months in federal prison. Joshua Benjamin Sutphin, 33, of Roanoke, Va., previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Today in District Court he was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison.
“Methamphetamine continues to be something law enforcement in Southwest Virginia battles on a daily basis," United States Attorney Fishwick said today. “We will continue to prosecute those who traffic and distribute this highly addictive and dangerous substance."
According to evidence presented at previous hearings by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Bassford, Morales-Hernandez was a higher-level supplier of methamphetamine for a conspiracy that brought multi-pound quantities of the drug from Arizona to Roanoke. Sutphin was supplied with methamphetamine from other members of the conspiracy and, in turn, supplied other members of the conspiracy who resold the drug in user-level quantities within the confines of Southeast Roanoke City.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Virginia State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Bassford prosecuted the case for the United States.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
