Zachary T. Lee Acting United States Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia
A federal case has concluded with a significant sentence for a Roanoke resident involved in methamphetamine distribution. Jeffrey Javontae Knight, also known as "Jefe," has been sentenced to 150 months in federal prison. He pled guilty last December to charges of possessing over 50 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
Evidence against Knight was gathered during an investigation on March 25, 2024, when he was observed making a drug transaction at a gas station in Roanoke County. Law enforcement stopped his car, and a K-9 unit detected the smell of drugs inside. A subsequent search revealed nearly a half-pound of pure methamphetamine, pill presses, digital scales, a fentanyl pill, and close to an ounce of fentanyl/xylazine mixtures. Additionally, Knight had thousands of dollars in cash, and phone messages showed he had been distributing methamphetamine and opioids for months from a hotel room in Roanoke County.
Further communications retrieved from Knight's phones indicated that he was involved in illicit activities with associates, including discussions about firearms given the tense environment they described as being "at war." Knight even offered to supply a .357 Magnum revolver. Moreover, the investigation uncovered that he had previously facilitated sales of methamphetamine from Pulaski County.
The announcement of the sentence was made by Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee and Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the DEA Washington Division. The case was thoroughly investigated by different agencies, namely the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Roanoke County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew O. Inman handled the prosecution.
