NORFOLK, Va. - A Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for his role in dealing heroin at his recording studio while armed.
According to court documents, Michael David Smith, 38, was the target of a five-month-long investigation by Virginia Beach Police Department’s Special Investigations Detectives and DEA Agents. Smith was part of a large heroin conspiracy that included sources of supply Steven Nichols, Darien Everette, and Everette’s lookout Duane Jones. Nichols supplied heroin to Everette, who in turn supplied it to Smith at Smith’s Newtown Road studio while assisted by Jones. Smith then distributed the heroin to a confidential source via controlled purchases at least five times in September and October 2017.
At a controlled purchase in October 2017, the Virginia Beach SWAT team was waiting for Everette and Jones to deliver the heroin to Smith at the studio. They arrested the three of them, searched their bags, and executed a search warrant for the studio. Police recovered from Smith’s bag marijuana, several other illegal drugs, packaging material, and a Glock 19 handgun. In the studio they also found methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, several prescription medications, and $2631 in cash that included $1650 of DEA and Virginia Beach buy money used to purchase heroin from Smith. All four defendants later pleaded guilty. Nichols, Everette, and Jones await sentencing.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Scott W. Hoernke, Acting Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, and James A. Cervera, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin M. Comstock and William B. Jackson 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. 2:18-cr-30, 2:18-CR-63 (Nichols), and 2:18-CR-23 (Everette).
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
