NEWS RELEASE
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
John L. Brownlee United States Attorney Heidi Coy Public Affairs Specialist |
BB&T Building 310 1st Street, S.W., Room 906 Roanoke, Virginia 24011 (540) 857-2250 FAX (540) 857-2180 |
May 16, 2007
FORMER POSTAL CARRIER PLEADS GUILTY TO DRUG AND GUN CHARGES
United States Attorney John L. Brownlee announced today that Eric Scott Frazier, age 42, of Charlottesville, Virginia, pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute five grams or more of crack cocaine, as well as quantities of marijuana, powder cocaine, and ecstacy. Frazier also pled guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance. The plea was entered pursuant to a written plea agreement in United States District Court in Charlottesville before Judge Norman K. Moon.
According to evidence presented during the plea hearing, Frazier was a postal carrier in Charlottesville from 1998 until his resignation in May 2007. While Frazier was at work one morning in June 2006, police were called to respond to a reported home invasion at his house. Frazier’s girlfriend and two of her sons were at the house at the time. Frazier’s girlfriend reported that two men, one armed with a gun, forced their way into the house and stole various items. One of the girlfriend’s sons told police that the robbers in part demanded marijuana. The son told the police that Frazier gave marijuana to friends all the time. During the investigation that followed, police discovered a duffel bag inside the house that contained approximately one ounce of crack cocaine, nearly 38 grams of powder cocaine, well over a pound of marijuana, and several ecstasy pills. Frazier’s personal papers were also inside the duffel bag. Investigators learned from various witnesses that Frazier had dealt drugs and had used marijuana for several years. Some of the witnesses also told investigators that Frazier had sold drugs while Frazier was on his mail route. Investigators also learned that Frazier had purchased three firearms from a local gun store between March 28 and June 14, 2006.
Frazier faces five to 40 years in prison for the gun charge and up to ten years in prison for the drug charge. Frazier also faces a maximum penalty of $2,250,000.
The case was investigated by the Albemarle County Police Department, the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force, and the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Nancy Healey is prosecuting the case.