Conspiracy Trafficked Over 50 Grams of Methamphetamine from Tennessee and Kentucky into SW Virginia
Abingdon, VIRGINIA - Two of seven individuals who conspired to distribute more than 50 grams of crystal methamphetamine in Southwest Virginia from sources in Tennessee and Kentucky were sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Abingdon, United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen and Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring announced.
Todd Houston Conyer, 30, of Pennington Gap, Va., was sentenced Tuesday, April 10 to a term of imprisonment of 60 months. He had previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.
In a separate hearing on the same day, Leslie Ann Clasby, 42, of Jonesville, Va., was sentenced to a term of 84 months of imprisonment. Clasby likewise had previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.
“Crystal methamphetamine is a dangerous drug that poses significant risks to those who use it," U.S. Attorney Thomas Cullen said. “I appreciate the efforts of our law-enforcement partners and their hard work in dismantling this illegal enterprise."
“My team is committed to aggressively prosecute those engaged in the distribution of dangerous drugs," said Attorney General Mark Herring. “We work hard to make our communities safer and appreciate our partnership with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to achieve this important goal."
According to evidence presented at previous hearings by Virginia Assistant Attorney General and Special Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Kerney-Quillen and Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ramseyer, the defendants engaged in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute crystal ice methamphetamine from April 1, 2016, through November 7, 2016. Court documents demonstrated that the conspiracy involved over 50 grams of crystal ice methamphetamine, acquired from multiple sources in Tennessee and Kentucky, and several firearms. Numerous undercover purchases of crystal ice were conducted by the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force at Sturgill’s residence in Jonesville, Virginia, where much of the activity concerning the conspiracy occurred.
The remaining five defendants in the case, Jeremy Rick Sturgill, Tony Lynn Ketron, Jason Dale Moore, William Benjamin Brewer, and Kristina Karen Burton have all pleaded guilty to related drug and firearms charges and will be sentenced later in April 2018.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia State Police, the Jonesville Police Department, and the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ramseyer prosecuted the case for the United States involving Leslie Ann Clasby. Special Assistant United States Attorney M. Suzanne Kerney-Quillen, a Virginia Assistant Attorney General assigned to the Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section, prosecuted the case for the United States involving all other defendants.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
