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 |
January 16, 2007
METH SUPPLIER SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS IN PRISON; SEVEN OTHERS SENTENCED FOR CONSPIRACY CHARGES
United States Attorney John L. Brownlee announced today that eight people have been sentenced for their roles in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. The conspiracy included 20 defendants who were involved in the distribution of methamphetamine in Augusta and Rockingham Counties. Part of the conspiracy included providing methamphetamine to high school students.
“Methamphetamine, especially at such high levels of purity, is an extremely dangerous drug. These sentences ensure that a major supply of methamphetamine in Rockingham and Augusta Counties has been stopped,” said United States Attorney John Brownlee.
Maurilio Prieto-Rubi, age 28, of Mexico, was sentenced to 16 years and two months in prison. Prieto-Rubi pleaded guilty pursuant to a plea agreement to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to evidence presented by Assistant United States Attorney Rusty Fitzgerald, Prieto-Rubi was a major supplier of methamphetamine to members of the conspiracy.
David Rowe, age 35, of Stuarts Draft, Virginia was sentenced to eight years in prison. Rowe pleaded guilty pursuant to a plea agreement to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm.
Gregory Layman, age 45, of Harrisonburg, Virginia, was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison. Layman pleaded guilty pursuant to a plea agreement to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Mark Moore, age 36, of Harrisonburg, Virginia, was sentenced to seven years and 10 months in prison. Moore pleaded guilty pursuant to a plea agreement to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Wendy Taylor, age 32, of Elkton, Virginia, was sentenced to 21 months in prison. Taylor pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine pursuant to a plea agreement.
Justin Wood, age 23, of Crimora, Virginia, was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Wood pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm pursuant to a plea agreement.
Mauricio Mendez- Soto, age 34, of New Market, Virginia was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison. Mendez-Soto pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine pursuant to a plea agreement.
Robert Booth, age 44, was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison. Booth pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine pursuant to a plea agreement.
The investigation began when agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives responded to the scene of a car bombing on February 10, 2005 at the home of Gregory Layman on Indian Trail Road in Harrisonburg. Agents determined that Joseph Jenkins had planted a homemade bomb on the hood of Gregory Layman’s car. The bomb exploded and injured Layman and damaged his vehicle. Jenkins later said he was trying to harm a Mexican national known to Jenkins as “Mo.” “Mo” was Layman’s source for methamphetamine, and was the source of methamphetamine for other defendants involved in this conspiracy. “Mo” was later identified as Maurilio Prieto-Rubi. According to evidence introduced by the United States, Prieto-Rubi would sell methamphetamine to members of the conspiracy including Franklin Hollingsworth, Justin Wood, and Gregory Layman, who would in turn sell to others.
Much of the methamphetamine that was distributed by the members of this conspiracy was exceptionally high purity, with percentages ranging up to 91% in laboratory analysis.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the RUSH Drug Task Force, the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office, the Waynesboro Police Department, and the Rockingham County Fire Marshal’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Rusty Fitzgerald is prosecuting the case.