NEWS RELEASE
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
John L. Brownlee United States Attorney Jo Brooks Media Contact |
BB&T Building 310 1st Street, S.W., Room 906 Roanoke, Virginia 24011 (540) 857-2250 FAX (540) 857-2180 |
January 8, 2008
METH MANUFACTURER SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS IN PRISON
United States Attorney John L. Brownlee announced today that ROBERT GERALD DAGNAN, age 49, of Keeokee, Virginia, was to 16 years and 6 months in prison by United States District Judge James P. Jones sitting in Big Stone Gap, Virginia for conduct surrounding his manufacture of methamphetamine. DAGNAN was previously convicted at trial of one count of manufacturing five grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possession with the intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possession of pseudophedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine, one count of creating a substantial risk of harm to human life while manufacturing methamphetamine, and one count of maintaining a place for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine. DAGNAN’s two co-defendants, KIMBERLY PIERSON and TRENA MULLINS, had previously plead guilty to charges relating to a conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.
According to evidence presented at trial by Assistant United States Attorney, Zachary Lee, on February 19, 2005, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Virginia State Police, and Scott County Sheriff’s Office conducted a controlled delivery of pseudophedrine, a component in the manufacture of methamphetamine, to DAGNAN after receiving information that he was involved in the manufacture of methamphetamine. After DAGNAN took possession of the pseudophedrine he was arrested and searched by law enforcement officers and more than five grams of pure methamphetamine and $1,687.00 was found on his person. Additionally, DAGNAN admitted that he had been manufacturing methamphetamine for two years and that he sold methamphetamine as his only source of income. Subsequent to his arrest, law enforcement officers searched DAGNAN’s residence in Keeokee, Virginia and found a methamphetamine lab, methamphetamine precursor chemicals, and methamphetamine.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police, and the Bristol Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee of the United States Attorney’s Office in Abingdon prosecuted the case.