NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - A Newport News woman was sentenced to 20 years in prison today for her role in the distribution of heroin to a person who overdosed and died.
Julie Rae Rock, 38, pleaded guilty on March 13. According to court documents, in November 2015, Rock purchased heroin that contained fentanyl from co-defendant Robert Alan Durkee. Rock then gave the heroin to the victim, identified in court documents as E.H., at a hotel in Newport News. The victim almost immediately fell to the ground. Rock left E.H., and his body was recovered later that day by hotel staff. E.H.’s cause of death was determined to be acute combined heroin and fentanyl intoxication.
Durkee was sentenced on June 8 to 20 years in prison for his role in the overdose death.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Karl C. Colder, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division; and Richard W. Myers, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan M. Cowles and Lisa R. McKeel prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:16-cr-84.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
