NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging nine people with participating in a drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy.
According to the indictment and court documents, Alex Burnett is charged with being the head of a criminal organization operating on the Virginia Peninsula. The indictment charges Alex Burnett, Charles McMillan, Charles Bailey, Jr., Mario Barrett and Jordan Davis with conspiring to distribute and distributing heroin, cocaine, cocaine base and marijuana. This included using the 9Rounds Gym in Peninsula Town Center, owned by Alex and Shirley Burnett, for drug deals. In addition, Alex Burnett, along with his father, Robert Burnett, and his mother, Shirley Burnett, and Ada Rodriguez and Eleonora Paronuzzi are charged with laundering the monies made from the drug distribution. Alex Burnett, Barrett and Davis are also charged with possessing firearms as convicted felons and Barrett is additionally charged with possessing an assault rifle in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
The Grand Jury returned the following charges:
Name
Age, Hometown
Charges
Max Penalty
Alex Burnett
37, Hampton
Continuing Criminal Enterprise
Conspiracy to Distribute Drugs
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Heroin
Felon in Possession of Firearm
Life
Life
20 years
20 years
10 years
Shirley Burnett
62, Carrollton
Conspiracy to Launder Money
20 years
Robert Burnett
64, Carrollton
Conspiracy to Launder Money
20 years
Jordan Davis
24, Williamsburg
Conspiracy to Distribute Drugs
Distribution of Cocaine Base
Felon in Possession of Firearm
Life
20 years
10 years
Charles McMillan
30, Newport News
Conspiracy to Distribute Drugs
Distribution of Cocaine Base
Life
20 years
Charles Bailey, Jr.
54, Newport News
Conspiracy to Distribute Drugs
Distribution of Cocaine Base
Life
20 years
Eleanora Paronuzzi
36, Newport News
Conspiracy to Launder Money
20 years
Ada Rodriguez
36, Jacksonvillle, Florida
Conspiracy to Launder Money
20 years
Mario Barrett
41, Hampton
Conspiracy to Distribute Drugs
Distribution of Heroin
Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana
Felon in Possession of Firearm
Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Life
20 years
5 years
10 years
Life
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, and Michael K. Lamonea, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt is prosecuting 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. 4:17-cr-111.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
