Home Federal grand jury indicts nine for role in Southwest Virginia drug operation
Local

Federal grand jury indicts nine for role in Southwest Virginia drug operation

Crystal Graham
jail handcuffs
(© mehaniq41 – stock.adobe.com)

A federal grand jury in Abingdon indicted nine individuals charging them with participating in a drug conspiracy that trafficked methamphetamine from North Carolina into Southwest Virginia.

All nine defendants have been arrested and are now in federal custody.

The indictment charges Marcos Adrian Martinez Rodriguez, Nestor Gutierrez-Gonzalez, Isaias Cisneros-Hernandez, Loeum Vinn Tok, Joan Mary Schugardt, Cody Allen Cashatt, Johnie Zeke Derose, April Renae Maness and Richard Wayne Greer.

All nine defendants are charged with one count of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Greer is also charged with one count of knowingly using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents, from June to October 2021, the defendants operated a methamphetamine distribution ring in and around Lexington, N.C. During the life of the conspiracy, methamphetamine was transported into Southwest Virginia for distribution.

Joshua Kogod, of Smyth County, was convicted in 2022 for his role in the conspiracy.

The investigation remains ongoing.




Multimedia

 

Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, Crystal Graham has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of "Virginia Tonight," a nightly TV news show, both broadcast on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television. You can reach her at [email protected]

Latest News

baseball
Sports

JMU Baseball: Dukes welcome new pitching coach, Christian Bourne 

uva football entrance
Football, Go 'Hoos

UVA Football: The 2026 Virginia roster is the most experienced in the country

Fun factoid from a recent ESPN column: the UVA Football roster will be the most experienced in the country this season.

darden towe park
Local

Albemarle County: Darden Towe Park closed due to damage from storms

Albemarle County Parks & Recreation announced on Saturday that Darden Towe Park will need to be closed “for the immediate future” due to damage from the line of dangerous storms that rolled through the area on Friday.

police car arrest lights
Region/State

Five shot, one critically wounded, in mass shooting at Virginia State University

fire department fire truck accident emergency
Local

Lightning strike causes residential structure fire in Albemarle County

augusta county sheriff accident police crash
Local

Augusta County: $50,000 reward offered for information in 2025 coin theft

road closed
Local

Rockingham County: Route 704 bridge over I-81 to close for repairs