A Norfolk man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his involvement in drug trafficking and firearms offenses. Lloyd Levi Hardy, also known as Blu or Trap Monster, 41, received the sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, psilocyn, and heroin; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Court records show that Virginia Beach Police obtained state arrest warrants for Hardy in September 2023 related to brandishing a firearm, using a firearm during the commission of a felony, shooting into an occupied dwelling, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. These charges stemmed from an incident where shots were fired into an apartment occupied by a woman and children. On October 10, 2023, law enforcement arrested Hardy at a hotel in Virginia Beach.
“Lloyd Hardy has earned a sentence as substantial as his criminal record,” said Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “As an armed drug dealer, with outstanding arrest warrants for violent crimes at the time of his arrest, Hardy is exactly the type of threat to our citizens that we work every day to identify and remove from our communities. In coordination with the FBI and our state and local partners, my office will continue to hold career offenders such as Lloyd Hardy responsible for their abhorrent actions.”
“This repeat offender’s criminal career ends here,” said Dominique Evans, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office. “Working with the Virginia Beach Police Department, we brought the full force of federal resources to bear—putting a dangerous individual behind bars and sending a clear message: if you peddle drugs and carry guns in our community, we will find you, and we will stop you.”
“The VBPD continues to aggressively focus on career offenders, and we are grateful for our federal partners assisting us in holding them accountable for the danger they present to our community,” said Paul Neudigate, Chief of Virginia Beach Police. “Every day, our officers put their lives on the line to keep drugs off our streets and firearms out of the hands of those who cannot legally possess them or those who intend to inflict harm in our neighborhoods. Ensuring accountability for ongoing felony activity helps keep Virginia Beach safe.”
“Thanks to the tireless work of our local, state, and federal partners, another dangerous criminal is off our streets,” said Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia. “This sentence makes it clear that repeat violent offenders and drug dealers will be held accountable in Virginia. My office will keep working with law enforcement across the Commonwealth to protect our communities and keep violent criminals behind bars.”
During their investigation police recovered approximately $1,600 cash along with over 13 grams of cocaine, more than 14 grams of heroin, nearly 12 grams of psilocyn (a hallucinogenic substance), four firearms—including one reported stolen—and evidence linking one gun through ballistics analysis directly back to the September 2023 shooting incident.
Authorities also found messages on Hardy’s cellphone dating back several years that documented repeated sales involving heroin, cocaine and psilocyn.
Hardy had prior convictions including grand larceny; destruction of property; obstructing; unlawful delivery of controlled substances; unlawful possession of firearms; eluding police (endangerment); and burglary. At the time he committed these latest offenses he was under conditions related to previous convictions.
Hardy entered his guilty plea on November 19th last year before Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr., who imposed today’s sentence.
The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan M. Montoya with assistance from former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyssa Miller—now an Assistant Attorney General at the Virginia Attorney General’s Office.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which coordinates efforts among law enforcement agencies at all levels aiming to reduce violent crime through strategies like focused enforcement priorities alongside community engagement initiatives (more information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psn).
Further details about this case are available via the U.S. Attorney’s Office website: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva or through court records on PACER by searching Case No. 2:24-cr-45 at https://pacer.gov/.
