Two brothers, convicted of firearm and drug trafficking charges, are headed to prison after police found them in possession of cocaine, meth, marijuana, a digital scale, baggies and multiple handguns, in a traffic stop in 2023.
Eric Michael Vaughan Jr., 32, of Hopewell, was convicted today of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. He was sentenced to four years and six months in prison.
His brother, Quadir McKinnon, 34, also of Hopewell, pled guilty on Sept. 13, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. On Jan. 31, McKinnon was sentenced to 14 years and seven months in prison.
Vaughan was on pre-trial release when he was arrested with his brother on Jan. 18, 2023.
According to court documents, on Dec. 19, 2022, Virginia State Police encountered Vaughan in a Hopewell motel room when a search warrant was executed on the room.
The room was rented by McKinnon, who previously sold 74.37 grams of cocaine, 4.43 grams of heroin, and 96.73 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential source. In the motel room, VSP recovered four firearms, 27.74 grams of cocaine, and 5.93 grams of a mixture containing heroin, cocaine and fentanyl from the room.
On Jan. 18, 2023, VSP apprehended McKinnon during a traffic stop. Vaughan was in the vehicle with his brother. In plain view on the center console of the vehicle was a loaded handgun.
When McKinnon stepped out of the vehicle, a backpack was tangled in his feet. Inside the backpack were 41.85 grams of cocaine and 6.99 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale, baggies and marijuana.
Under the front passenger seat, where Vaughan was sitting, was a loaded 9mm handgun and on the seat was a loose 9mm hollow-point round. In Vaughan’s pockets were .35 grams of a mixture of heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl and .76 grams of cocaine.
As a previously convicted felon, Vaughan cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
A career criminal, in 2012, Vaughan, armed with a sawed-off shotgun, robbed individuals in a Petersburg home. Vaughan was convicted of 11 felonies, including robbery, burglary, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and abduction. Vaughan was sentenced to 13 years in prison.
Less than two months after Vaughan was released from prison, Vaughan was speeding and as a VSP trooper attempted to stop him, he allegedly threw a firearm from the window of his vehicle. Vaughan was convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon, reckless driving, eluding police and driving without a license. Vaughan was sentenced to two years and 8 months in prison.
Vaughan was on pre-trial release for those charges when he was encountered in the motel room on Dec. 19, 2022, and when he was arrested with his brother.
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Crystal Graham
