Meth Traffickers Sentenced

Methamphetamine trafficking has once again been dealt a significant blow in Southwest Virginia, as two defendants charged in Operation California Dreamin’ were sentenced this week in U.S. District Court in Abingdon.

According to U.S. Attorney Thomas T. Cullen, the sentences are a major victory in the fight against the scourge of methamphetamine addiction in the region. “The scourge of methamphetamine trafficking and addiction remains the most serious public-safety issue facing far Southwest Virginia,” Cullen stated. “We will continue to work closely with our federal, state, and local law partners to target and dismantle the drug-trafficking organizations responsible for importing this deadly substance from Mexico and selling it in our communities.”

Melissa Barrett, 46, of Meadowview, Va., was sentenced to 168 months’ incarceration. Barrett previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine. Matthew Todd Mullins, 45, of Bristol, Va., was sentenced to 188 months’ incarceration. Mullins previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of distribution of methamphetamine, and one count of manufacture counterfeit obligations.

The investigation into the methamphetamine trafficking operation began in early 2017, and has since identified 28 individuals involved in the trafficking and distribution of methamphetamine between California and Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. The investigation has also revealed that some alleged sources of supply from California temporarily relocated to the Bristol, Virginia and Tennessee region in order to better facilitate their drug distribution operations.

The case is being investigated by a multi-agency task force, including the Abingdon Police Department, Virginia State Police, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Bristol, Tennessee Police Department, Bristol, Virginia Police Department, the Sullivan County, Tennessee Second Judicial Drug Task Force, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, Commerce, Georgia Police Department, New Jersey State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

U.S. Attorney Cullen praised the efforts of the task force and the prosecution team, saying that their work is crucial in the fight against methamphetamine trafficking. Western District of Virginia Criminal Chief Zachary T. Lee and Assistant United States Attorney Cagle Juhan are prosecuting the case for the United States. The Washington County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, Bristol, Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, and the Sullivan County, District Attorney’s Office have assisted in the investigation.

The sentences handed down this week are a significant step forward in the fight against methamphetamine trafficking in Southwest Virginia. As U.S. Attorney Cullen noted, the problem of methamphetamine addiction remains a serious public safety issue in the region, and it will take continued efforts from law enforcement and the community to combat it. The success of Operation California Dreamin’ is a testament to the power of collaboration and determination in the fight against drug trafficking.

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