Noel Solett is the Third Member of Drug Conspiracy to Plead Guilty
ROANOKE, VIRGINIA - The third member of a conspiracy that distributed large quantities of various drugs throughout the Roanoke Valley pled guilty today in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Roanoke to federal drug conspiracy charges, United States Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr. announced.
Noel Phillip Solett, 40, of Roanoke, Va., pled guilty today to one count of conspiring to distribute at least 50 grams of methamphetamine or at least 500 grams of a substance containing a detectable about of methamphetamine.
“These defendants caused great pain to individuals throughout the Roanoke Valley who struggled with addiction to these dangerous substances," United States Attorney Fishwick said today. “I am grateful to the men and women who investigated and prosecuted this conspiracy and slowed the tide of drugs into our community."
According to evidence presented at today’s guilty plea hearing by Assistant United States Attorney Laura D. Rottenborn, Solett admitted that between December 2015 and February 2016 he bought methamphetamine from co-conspirator Tyler Johnson. Johnson pled guilty to federal drug charges last week. Solett and Johnson generally met in Roanoke or Salem to conduct their drug transactions. Solett admitted to buying 1,000 grams of crystal methamphetamine from Johnson. Solett then sold the methamphetamine to other drug customers. Solett also sold heroin. One of Solett’s drug customers was Brandon Thomas. Thomas previously pled guilty to federal sex trafficking and drug trafficking charges.
Solett was interdicted by police in February 2016 during the course of a drug transaction in the parking lot of a Roanoke hotel. During a search of his vehicle, Roanoke City Police found two lockboxes in the trunk of his car, which contained methamphetamine, heroin, LSD, and ammunition. Police also recovered a.45 caliber handgun in the driver’s side door compartment.
The investigation of the case was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Roanoke City Police Department, the Roanoke County Police Department, the Salem Police Department, and the Virginia State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Donald R. Wolthuis and Laura Day Rottenborn prosecuted the case for the United States.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
