A million-dollar drug pipeline stretching from the neon strip of Las Vegas to the hollows of Southwest Virginia has claimed two more guilty pleas, as federal prosecutors dismantle a sprawling narcotics network. Amy Lorene Arcaro-Moser, 52, and Steven Michael Salyer, 27, stood before the U.S. District Court in Abingdon today and admitted their roles in a conspiracy that flooded communities with methamphetamine and oxycodone, fueling addiction and destabilizing entire counties.
Both defendants pled guilty to a one-count Information charging them with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and/or oxycodone. In a separate but related plea, Arcaro-Moser — also known as Skipper — admitted to conspiring to commit money laundering, a critical piece in the operation’s effort to disguise over $1,000,000 in illicit drug proceeds. The funds were systematically funneled from Virginia back to suppliers in Las Vegas through bank accounts, Western Union, and MoneyGram transfers, investigators confirmed.
The case stems from a 2014 investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, targeting a trafficking ring that shipped crystal methamphetamine and prescription opioids via FedEx and USPS. Packages were routed from Las Vegas to Abingdon, Virginia, and Eastern Kentucky, where local distributors distributed the drugs across rural networks. Authorities identified both the street-level operators and their high-desert suppliers through intercepted packages and financial tracking.
Thirty-two individuals have now been indicted in the sprawling probe, one of the largest federal drug operations in the region in recent years. The bust exposed a sophisticated supply chain that relied on commercial couriers and layered financial transactions to evade detection. According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Lee, who presented evidence in prior hearings, the organization operated with military precision, treating narcotics like inventory and profits like payroll.
“These individuals were part of a larger drug conspiracy that brought methamphetamine, and other dangerous drugs into Virginia,” said United States Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr. “These substances ruin lives and communities. We will continue to be vigilant in taking down large scale conspiracies.” Federal authorities emphasized that the investigation is ongoing, with more prosecutions expected as financial trails are followed.
The probe was a joint effort involving the DEA, ATF, IRS Criminal Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, Virginia State Police, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Abingdon Police Department, Marion Police Department, and Smyth County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Lee is prosecuting the case. Sentencing for Arcaro-Moser and Salyer will be scheduled in the coming months, with each facing significant prison time under federal sentencing guidelines.
Related Federal Cases
- Five Guilty in Las Vegas-to-Virginia Drug Pipeline · Kentucky
- 32 Indicted in ‘Leaving Las Vegas’ Meth Ring Bust · Kentucky
- Chicago Man Richard Fleming Gets 4 Years for Drug Cash Pickup · Indiana
- Jose Roberto Lopez-Albarran Charged in $Million Drug Cash Scheme · Washington
- FDIC Approves WesBanco Bank Merger Amid Scrutiny · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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