The United States Attorney's Office

Western District of Virginia

NEWS RELEASE
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA

December 1, 2008

TWO MORE MEMBERS OF DRUG DISTRIBUTION CONSPIRACY RING SENTENCED

Acting United States Attorney Julia C. Dudley announced today that Joe Davis Williams III, age 29, and Jvon Barnett, age 22, were sentenced in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Charlottesville for their roles in a drug distribution conspiracy.

Both men were indicted on February 13, 2008 along with six other co-conspirators and charged with a multitude of drug distribution offenses. Williams pled guilty in September to conspiring to distribute more than 10 kilograms but less than 20 kilograms of marijuana. Barnett also pled guilty in September to conspiring to distribute between 60-80 kilograms of marijuana.

Today in District Court, Barnett was sentenced to 12 months of Federal incarceration and 3 years of supervised release thereafter. Williams was sentenced to 12 months and one day of incarceration and 3 years of supervised release.

“These men were part of an organization that distributed large amounts of marijuana to members of this community,” Acting United States Attorney Julia C. Dudley said today. “Thanks to the work of the investigators and prosecutors working on this case, that organization as been toppled and its members have been brought to justice.”

Also charged in February as being part of the conspiracy is Reynold George Samuels Jr., Travis McKinsley Barnett, Reginald Vaughn Bly, Penny Alisha Mills, Carl Anthony Samuels and Andre Alexander Williams.

Andre Williams has been sentenced to 68 months incarceration and Reginald Bly has been sentenced to 40 months incarceration for their roles in the conspiracy. The remaining defendants have all pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing hearings.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Ronald Huber is prosecuting the case for the United States.