LYNCHBURG, VA – A major drug pipeline funneling cocaine into Central Virginia has been choked off with the sentencing of Jermel Lawrence Storey, 45, to 27.5 years in federal prison. Storey, formerly of Lynchburg and recently residing in Charlotte, North Carolina, was the kingpin of a sprawling narcotics network that flooded the region with over 150 kilograms of cocaine – a street value exceeding $4.5 million.
The bust, a joint effort between the ATF, DEA, and Lynchburg Police Department, details a sophisticated operation running from January 2016 to January 2021. Storey, acting as the source of supply, imported massive quantities of the drug from Houston, Texas, routing it through Charlotte before distributing it throughout Lynchburg and the surrounding areas. Even after relocating to North Carolina, Storey continued to direct the operation, ordering co-conspirators to collect shipments and deliver them for sale.
Storey pled guilty in July 2022 to a quartet of serious federal charges: conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute and distributing cocaine (two counts), and possession of a firearm – a short-barreled rifle – in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The inclusion of the firearm charge underscores the inherent danger of these operations, linking drug trafficking directly to potential violence.
“Dismantling this massive narcotics conspiracy makes a significant impact on the entire Central Virginia area,” stated U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh. The sentiment was echoed by Lynchburg Police Chief Ryan Zuidema, who emphasized the connection between drug activity and violent crime, declaring the community’s “unwillingness to tolerate either.”
Federal agents also seized a short-barreled rifle in connection with the case, highlighting the dangerous intersection of drugs and firearms. ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon stated, “Combating violent gun crime and narcotics distribution within our communities is something we do every day.” DEA Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget added that his agency’s priority is dismantling drug trafficking organizations and holding accountable individuals like Storey, who profit from the misery of addiction.
The sentencing of Jermel Storey sends a clear message: large-scale drug trafficking will not be tolerated in Central Virginia. While Storey faces decades behind bars, the investigation continues, and authorities are likely pursuing his co-conspirators. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and expose the dark underbelly of federal crime.
Related Federal Cases
- Hector Segura-Lara, Cocaine Trafficking, Louisiana 2021 · Louisiana
- Celso Manuel Gamboa Sanchez, Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy, Texas … · Louisiana
- Juan Hernandez, Cocaine Trafficking, Texas 2021 · Florida
- Luis Manuel Castillo Garcia, Cocaine Trafficking, Texas 2024 · Iowa
- Roy Valent Jr, Synthetic Cannabinoid Trafficking, TX 2023 · Alabama
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News