US Attorney's Office News
April 30, 2008
LAW ENFORCEMENT BREAKS UP MAJOR CRACK COCAINE DISTRIBUTION CONSPIRACY; GRAND JURY CHARGES 51 PEOPLE FROM VIRGINIA, TENNESSEE AND NORTH CAROLINA
United States Attorney John L. Brownlee announced today that local, state and federal law enforcement have taken down a major crack cocaine distribution ring. The investigation, which took over one and one-half years, culminated today with the unsealing of Criminal Complaint in United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Abingdon. The Complaint charged 51 individuals with being involved in a conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine powder and crack cocaine.
“We will continue to fight the sale and distribution of crack and powder cocaine and hold those drug dealers responsible for their crimes,” United States Attorney John Brownlee said today. “I want to thank all the federal, state and local law enforcement officials who undertook this very difficult and very wide-ranging investigation,”
According to the criminal complaint, in January 2007 law enforcement agents from multiple agencies began targeting a large scale crack cocaine distribution organization operating in southwest Virginia, northeast Tennessee, and North Carolina. The drug-trafficking organization had been operating in the region for a number of years and was headed by the members of KANTSTOP RECORDS, Inc., a music production company based out of Burlington, North Carolina. Ultimately, the drug trafficking organization grew to actively involve at least 51 people in Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, in the distribution of crack cocaine.
According to evidence discovered through the course of the investigation, KANTSTOP RECORDS, Inc., was a music production company incorporated in the state of Tennessee in 2003 by Derrick Lamont Evans (aka “Shank”), age 34, of Gray, Tennessee, and Bryant Kelly Pride (aka “Pride”), age 36, of Bristol, Virginia.
Evans was listed as the President of KANTSTOP RECORDS, Inc. and Pride was listed as the executive vice president/chief executive officer. The production company sponsored the musicians Marcus Andrew Watkins (aka “Sparkz”), age 30, Andre Lamont Watkins (“Huff da Author”), age 30, and Tyree Lamar Slade (“Ovious Mcfly”), age 26, all of Burlington, North Carolina, who made up the music group “Fam 1st.”
Charles Jermaine King, age 31, of Burlington, North Carolina, was also sponsored by KANTSTOP RECORDS, Inc., and performed under the name “Zig-Lah.” Based upon the investigation, it became clear to law enforcement officials that the musicians associated with KANTSTOP RECORDS, Inc. had been distributing crack cocaine in the Bristol, Virginia region since at least 2003. In addition, investigators determined that musicians sponsored by KANTSTOP RECORDS Inc. consistently recruited friends and associates from the Burlington, North Carolina area to transport and distribute large quantities of crack cocaine into a geographic region that ranged from Sullivan County, Tennessee north to Washington and Russell counties in Virginia.
Furthermore, many individuals from Virginia and Tennessee were recruited by Pride, Evans, and others associated with KANTSTOP RECORDS, Inc., to serve as street-level dealers of crack cocaine, to act as drivers used to transport crack cocaine throughout the organization’s distribution area and to provide locations at which powder cocaine was sold, stored, and transformed into crack cocaine and sold.
Information from numerous sources led law enforcement officials to conclude that KANTSTOP RECORDS, Inc., was used by members of the drug trafficking organization as a means to launder the proceeds earned from the distribution of more than 100 kilograms of crack cocaine in the Bristol region. Throughout the course of the investigation more than $25,000 in United States currency, numerous vehicles, firearms and multiple ounces of cocaine and crack cocaine have been seized by law enforcement agencies.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigative Division, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Bristol, Tennessee Police Department, the Bristol, Virginia Police Department, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, the Abingdon Police Department, the Washington County, Virginia Sheriff’s Department, the Virginia State Police, and the 2nd Judicial District Drug Task Force. The investigation was assisted by the United States Marshal’s Service, the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office, the Washington County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the City of Bristol Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee of the United States Attorney’s Office in Abingdon will prosecute the case.
A criminal complaint is simply a charge and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
April 29, 2008
CARTWRIGHT’S RECREATIONAL CENTER IN WINCHESTER FORFEITED TO UNITED STATES AS FOCAL POINT OF CRACK COCAINE DISTRIBUTION
United States Attorney John L. Brownlee announced today that 502 and 504 North Kent Street in Winchester, Virginia, known locally as Cartwright’s Recreation Center, have been forfeited to the United States following a civil forfeiture action filed in United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Charlottesville.
The building had been the prime location used for the distribution of crack cocaine by a large-scale, Winchester area, crack cocaine distribution ring. Twenty-eight members of the drug distribution conspiracy were indicted in 2006 following a long investigation into an area in the northern section of Winchester City, known as the “Block,” where crack cocaine distribution was prevalent. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Mott prosecuted the drug cases and Assistant United States Attorney Sharon Burnham completed the forfeiture of Cartwright’s Recreation Center.
“For years, this building was a place that crack cocaine dealers and crack cocaine users frequented in order to sell, store and use illegal drugs,” United States Attorney John Brownlee said today. “In connection with an already successful criminal prosecution of many of the drug dealers involved in this intricate conspiracy, this civil judgement assures the community that this building will never again be a haven for crack cocaine dealers or users.”
The forfeiture of Cartwright’s Recreation Center began in September 2006 when 28 people were indicted on cocaine charges after the investigation into widespread crack cocaine distribution ring in the Winchester area. Federal law provides that property used to facilitate drug trafficking can be forfeited to the United States unless the owner of the property did not know of the illegal activity, or upon learning of the illegal activity, did all that reasonably could be expected under the circumstances to stop the illegal activity.
The investigation revealed that Cartwright’s Recreation Center, owned by Allen Cartwright, and the area around the center in the northern section of Winchester City known at the “Block,” were the central locations that drug dealers distributing cocaine and crack cocaine in the Winchester area frequently used as a place to deal, store and use crack cocaine.
Tony Cartwright, the owner’s son, would allow members of the drug distribution organization to use the premises to store and sell crack cocaine. Tony Cartwright pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly managing a place and making it available for use as a place for distributing cocaine. He was sentenced to 41 months imprisonment on August 13, 2007. His father Allen Cartwright has denied involvement in the activities occurring at Cartwright’s Recreation Center, but has agreed to the forfeiture of the property to the United States.
According to the civil complaint and affidavit filed against Cartwright’s Recreation Center, the property facilitated drug trafficking in the area since 1992 and cites 94 reported drug offenses in and around the property between January 2003 and July 2006. On seven different occasions during that time period, controlled purchases of cocaine were made inside the building by law enforcement officers.
On February 10, 2006, law enforcement officials received information that drugs were being sold in and around Cartwright’s Recreation Center. During the execution of a search warrant on that location, investigators seized more than five grams of crack cocaine that was sitting in plain sight inside Cartwright’s Recreation Center. Additional crack cocaine was found hidden in various other locations throughout the Cartwright’s property. The criminal investigation ultimately revealed that large amounts of cocaine and crack cocaine were being supplied to the Winchester area from a variety of sources in southeast Florida.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug Task Force, which includes The Winchester Police Department, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Department, the Clarke County Sheriff’s Department, the Warren County Sheriff’s Department, the Town of Front Royal Police Department, the Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Department, the Page County Sheriff’s Department and the Virginia State Police. The St. Lucie County, Florida Sheriff’s Department’s Special Investigations Unit, and the Ft. Pierce, Florida Police Department’s Crime Suppression Unit and Gang Analyst also assisted in the investigation.
April 28, 2008
BANK ROBBER PLEADS GUILTY AFTER SPENDING ALMOST 20 YEARS ON THE RUN AS A FUGITIVE
United States Attorney John L. Brownlee announced today that Samuel Jacob Webb, age 45, formerly of Kingsport, Tennessee, pled guilty in United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Abingdon to a bank robbery he committed nearly 20 years ago.
“For the last 20 years, Mr. Webb thought he could avoid prosecution for his crimes by hiding from law enforcement,” United States Attorney John Brownlee said today. “However, the men and women who have investigated this case since 1989 never wavered in their determination to bring this fugitive to justice and for that I am grateful to them.”
Webb admitted in District Court last week that he used force, violence or intimidation to rob Dominion Bank in Abingdon on the morning of September 19, 1989. The defendant was charged in a one count indictment in November 1989.
According to the indictment, Webb placed the lives of the bank tellers and bank customers in jeopardy by using a dangerous weapon, specifically a handgun, during the robbery.
Until his arrest in January of 2008, Webb had been a fugitive for nearly 20 years. He was able to conceal his true identity for nearly two decades by stealing the identity of a stranger and using that individual’s birth date and social security number to create a false identity.
However, thanks to the work of the Hendersonville, Tennessee Police Department, who uncovered Webb’s 20-year string of lies during an interview with the defendant that took place at the Sumner County Jail regarding unrelated criminal charges, the defendant’s true identity was revealed.
The maximum penalty faced by the Webb is 25 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000. A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled by the court.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Sharon Burnham is prosecuting the case.
April 17, 2008
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY JOHN BROWNLEE ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION
Roanoke, Virginia – United States Attorney John L. Brownlee announced today that he will be resigning his position as U.S. Attorney effective May 16, 2008. Brownlee, 43, was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2001, and has served for the past seven years as the top federal law enforcement official for the 2.2 million citizens residing in Virginia’s 52 western counties. As United States Attorney, Mr. Brownlee has successfully prosecuted some of our nation’s most dangerous criminals and corrupt corporations.
“Serving as United States Attorney has been the professional honor of my life,” said U.S. Attorney John Brownlee. “I want to thank President Bush, Senators Warner and Allen, Attorney General Mukasey, the members of my office, and Virginia’s law enforcement community for their support and confidence. I am grateful for all they have done for me and my family.”
Mr. Brownlee began his service as U.S. Attorney on August 30, 2001, just 10 days before the terrorists attacks on September 11, 2001. During the last seven years, Brownlee and his office have played a major role in fighting violent crime, drug trafficking, illegal immigration, public corruption, civil rights violations, crimes against our environment, and corporate fraud. Mr. Brownlee also successfully prosecuted one of the most significant national security cases in 2007 and two capital murder cases.
Brownlee, a graduate of Washington and Lee University and The College of William and Mary School of Law, previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, an attorney in private practice, and a federal judicial law clerk. Prior to entering law school, Mr. Brownlee served as an Infantry officer in the U.S. Army and successfully completed the Army's Airborne and Ranger programs. John and his wife Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee have two daughters and reside in Roanoke, Virginia.
