Eric Darnell Royal, Jr. Methamphetamine Distribution, Virginia 2020

Defendant Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Distribution

RICHMOND, Va. – A Dinwiddie man pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine.

On October 2019, Eric Darnell Royal, Jr., 23, traveled by himself to the Chula Gas Mart, located in Amelia. Upon arrival, Royal possessed a red bag around his waist that contained illegal narcotics and possessed a firearm inside his vehicle.

Shortly after arriving, two individuals approached Royal, assaulted him, and ripped the red bag from his waist. A struggle ensued in the parking lot between Royal and the two men causing multiple plastic baggies to fall from the red bag onto the ground.

Following the fight, Royal picked up the red bag and left the gas station. Law enforcement later recovered, on the ground in the parking lot, two clear plastic baggies with 342 purple oval unmarked tablets determined to be 76.49 grams of methamphetamine and 58.99 grams of marijuana.

On August, federal agents arrested Royal at his place of business, located in Chester. A search of the vehicle revealed: a loaded Sig Sauer, Model P229, .40 caliber, semi-automatic pistol; a vacuum-sealed bag with marijuana residue; a digital scale; and marijuana.

Royal pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison when sentenced on February 2, 2021. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/dinwiddie-methamphetamine-dealer-pleads-guilty-distribution