ABINGDON, VIRGINIA -- United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy announced today that a cooperative investigation to combat the distribution of oxycodone has resulted in convictions of nine defendants and sentences of imprisonment for six residents of Southwest Virginia and two residents of Detroit, Michigan.

All nine defendants were convicted of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone following a two-year investigation involving the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force, Virginia State Police, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee 2nd Judicial Drug Task Force, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

“This case is a prime example of what is possible when law enforcement agencies work cooperatively to make communities safer,” United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said today. “The investigators responsible for these convictions crossed jurisdictional boundaries to bring these drug dealers to justice. I appreciate all the hard work of the agencies that contributed to this investigation and prosecution.”

The defendants sentenced were:

Thomas Poole, 67, of Big Stone Gap, Va., was sentenced to 70 months imprisonment.

James Howard Poole, Sr., 68, of Big Stone Gap, Va., was sentenced to three years probation.

Lavert Farris a/k/a Lavert Poole, 26, of Detroit, Michigan was sentenced to 72 months imprisonment.

Pierre Deshon Wilson, 24, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced to 87 months imprisonment.

Brittany Hafemeister, 26, of Big Stone Gap, Va., was sentenced to 42 months imprisonment.

Kayla Rochelle Honeycutt, 21, of Appalachia, Va., was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment.

Matthew Wayne Grubb, 35, of Big Stone Gap, Va., was sentenced to 70 months imprisonment.

Edward William Walker, IV a/k/a “Rocky”, 32, Big Stone Gap, Va., was sentenced to 84 months imprisonment.

Malcolm T’Rell Pinkston, 21, of Big Stone Gap, Va., was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment.

According to evidence presented at numerous hearings by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee, the defendants sentenced as a result of the investigation were involved in bringing large quantities of oxycodone from Detroit to Southwest Virginia for distribution. Many of the defendants were also involved in the actual distribution of oxycodone in the Big Stone Gap area. As determined by the investigation, quantities of oxycodone were shipped to the area using FedEx packages and were also transported to the area by Lavert Farris and Pierre Deshon Wilson.

The investigation of these defendants was conducted by the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force in Big Stone Gap, Virginia State Police, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee 2nd Judicial Drug Task Force, United States Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Wise County, Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, Sullivan County, Tennessee District Attorney’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee also assisted in the investigation and prosecution of these defendants. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee of the United States Attorney’s Office in Abingdon prosecuted the case.

 

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