Leader of Scott County Drug Distribution Conspiracy Sentenced to 10 Years Imprisonment
BIG STONE GAP, VIRGINIA -- United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy announced today that the leader of a Scott County drug distribution conspiracy was sentenced in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Big Stone Gap.
Perry Roger Carter, 54, Gate City, Va., was sentenced to ten years imprisonment following his earlier pleas of guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, methadone, oxycodone, Xanax and Lortabs; one count of possession of a sawed-off shotgun; and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Other members of the conspiracy have previously been sentenced to terms of imprisonment:
Dana Sue Campbell, 51, Gate City, Va., Carter’s sister, was sentenced to 70 months imprisonment following her plea of guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, methadone, and oxycontin.
Randall Darnell, Sr., 44, Gate City, Va., was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment following his earlier plea of guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, OxyContin, and morphine.
Ron Smith, 35, Hiltons, Va., was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment following his earlier plea of guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute Oxycontin.
Kristi LaDuke, 37, Gate City, Va., was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment following her earlier plea of guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute Oxycontin.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea hearings by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Lee, Carter, Campbell, Darnell, Sr., Smith and LaDuke were all involved in the distribution of controlled substances in Scott County, Virginia, from approximately 2005-2011. Perry Roger Carter and his sister, Dana Campbell, were suppliers of the conspiracy, operating from their homes on Manville Road in Scott County, Virginia. Carter and Campbell provided large quantities of cocaine, methadone, Oxycontin and other controlled substances to other members of the conspiracy for further distribution in Scott County, Virginia and elsewhere. The Scott County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives utilized confidential informants to make purchases of cocaine, methadone, lortabs and oxycontin from Carter, Campbell, Darnell, Smith and LaDuke. Additionally, a search warrant executed by law enforcement at Carter’s residence on April 26, 2011 led to the seizure of records consistent with drug distribution, a sawed-off shotgun, and a .380 cal. pistol with an obliterated serial number. The Scott County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office assisted in coordinating the investigation and prosecution with federal and county law enforcement authorities.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Scott County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office, Scott County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee of the United States Attorney’s Office in Abingdon is prosecuting the case.
