ABINGDON, VA – Charles Snead, 68, of Abingdon, Virginia, will spend the next 7.5 years in federal prison after being sentenced Tuesday for his role in a southwest Virginia methamphetamine distribution network. Snead pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, as well as possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The sentence was handed down in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia.
Federal investigators uncovered that Snead wasn’t operating alone. His suppliers, Chelsey Lynn Doss and William Whitt, were already sentenced in March 2023 to 10 years each for their contributions to the drug ring. Doss and Whitt allegedly provided the methamphetamine Snead then peddled throughout the Abingdon area for months, turning a tidy profit from the misery of others.
The bust came down in July 2022 when agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) raided Snead’s Abingdon home. Inside, they found a quarter-pound of methamphetamine – enough to supply a significant number of users – and a loaded handgun, indicating Snead was prepared to defend his operation, and his profits. The firearm charge added significantly to the severity of his sentence.
“This sentence should serve as a warning to those who seek to profit from the destruction caused by illegal drugs,” stated U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia in a released statement. While the feds pat themselves on the back, the streets of Abingdon will likely fill with a new dealer, eager to take Snead’s place. This isn’t a victory, it’s a temporary setback.
The investigation was a multi-agency effort, involving the DEA, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Jared Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Washington Division, also commented on the case, highlighting the importance of collaboration in dismantling these criminal enterprises. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit D. Pierce prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and subsequent sentencing of Snead.
While Snead, Doss, and Whitt are now off the streets, the underlying demand for methamphetamine continues to fuel the illegal drug trade. The Grimy Times will continue to track these cases, exposing the players and the systems that allow this poison to flow into our communities. The fight is far from over, and the sentence handed down to Snead is merely one battle in a much larger war.
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