Grand Jury Indicts 21 in Federal Drug Conspiracy Case Centered in Wise and Lee Counties

Abingdon, VIRGINIA – Twenty-one individuals from Wise and Lee counties in Southwest Virginia were charged by a federal grand jury in an indictment unsealed today with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and other federal drug crimes, United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen announced today.

The indictment was returned, under seal, May 29, 2019, and unsealed today following the arrest of five of the defendants. The complete list of those defendants arrested today or previously in custody is below. Four remaining defendants remain wanted by authorities.   

1. Travis Lee Pennington: 36, of Appalachia, Va., is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, three counts of distribution and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of using a communication device in the commission of a drug trafficking offense, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of being a convicted felon illegally in possession of a firearm, one count of being in possession of a firearm that had the manufacturer’s serial number removed or altered, and one count of using violence or the threat of violence to retaliate against a witness.
2. Omar Kareem Banks: 44, of Coeburn, Va., is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of distribution and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of being a convicted felon illegally in possession of a firearm.
3. Shawn Brandon Barnes: 40, of Appalachia, Va., is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, two counts of distribution and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of using a communication device in the commission of a drug trafficking offense.
4. Jeffrey Wayne Caudill: 47, of Keokee, Va., is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
5. Jaime Lee Christian: 39, of Wise County, Va.,  is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of distribution and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
6. Carl Lee Davis Jr.: 33, Keokee, Va., is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
7. Jonathan Earl Funk: 32, of Wise County, Va., is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
8. Lewis Wesley Hickman III: 25, of Wise County, Va., is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of distribution and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
9. Joseph Andrew Hobbs: 27, of Wise County, Va., is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of distribution and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
10. James Morrison Johnson: 28, of Wise County, Va., is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of distribution and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
11. Jeremey David Mallory: 41, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
12. Tony Lynn McClellan: 33, of Big Stone Gap, Va., is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, three counts of distribution and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of using a communications device to facilitate a drug trafficking offense, and one count of using a firearm in a crime of violence.
13. Susan Adrianna Mullins: 30, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, two counts of distribution and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and two counts of using a communication device to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.
14. Misty Nelms: 28, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of using a communication device in the commission of a drug trafficking offense.
15. David Stone Ringley: 28, of Wise County, Va., is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
16. Travis Ryan Skaggs: 30, of Wise County, Va., is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
17. Joshua Barrett Sutherland: 33, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of using a firearm in a crime of violence.

According to the indictment, the 21 defendants conspired to distribute methamphetamine in Lee and Wise counties, and elsewhere, between July 1, 2016 and May 1, 2019.

In addition, the indictment alleges that Travis Pennington, as a convicted felon, illegally possessed a firearm and used that firearm in a crime of violence. According to the indictment, between February 22, 2019 and March 5, 2019, Pennington used violence or the threat of violence to retaliate against a witness.                                                                                                          

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force, which is comprised of the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Wise County Sheriff’s Office, Dickenson County Sheriff’s Office, Norton Police Department, Big Stone Gap Police Department, and the Virginia State Police.  Assistant United States Attorney Lena Busscher will prosecute the case for the United States.

A Grand Jury Indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt.  The defendants are entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.