Zachary T. Lee Acting United States Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia
A federal jury in Roanoke has convicted Richard Elijah Jacobs, a 27-year-old from South Boston, Virginia, on charges related to drugs and firearms. The verdict came after a two-day trial where Jacobs was found guilty of possessing cocaine and marijuana with the intent to distribute, possessing machine guns for drug trafficking purposes, and having firearms as a convicted felon.
The case stemmed from an incident on February 3, 2024, when police responded to reports of two men brandishing guns from a white Jaguar in downtown South Boston. Officers observed the vehicle parked at a shopping center and approached as Jacobs exited the driver's side. The passenger, identified later as James Alexander Hiett through surveillance footage, evaded the officer.
Upon further investigation, officers discovered three loaded firearms inside the vehicle: a Glock 21 pistol with a 40-round drum magazine under the driver's floormat; a Radical Firearms RF-15 pistol behind the driver's seat; and a Glock 19 pistol beneath the passenger seat. The Glock 21 and RF-15 pistols were modified with machine gun conversion devices.
In addition to the firearms, authorities found significant quantities of cocaine powder, cocaine base, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia in the car's trunk.
James Alexander Hiett had previously pleaded guilty to related charges and received a sentence of 33 months in prison.
The announcement of Jacobs' conviction was made by Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee and Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The investigation was conducted by the South Boston Police Department and ATF with support from the Halifax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Drew Inman and Kelly McGann prosecuted the case.
