Shon E. Melton, Heroin Trafficking, Virginia 2017

Shon E. Melton, 32, a Portsmouth man, was sentenced to five years in prison for his role in trafficking firearms and selling heroin.

Court documents show that in 2017, Melton was attributed with trafficking 19 firearms, including a concealable short barrel shotgun, assault rifles, and stolen guns. One of the stolen guns was a Ruger with a scope and laser modification. The firearms trafficked by Melton included stolen guns connected to burglaries in the London Oaks neighborhood of Portsmouth, sold within days or weeks of the home invasions.

Operation High Tide is a large-scale narcotics trafficking and firearms investigation that has resulted in the recovery of over 65 firearms, over 7 kilograms of cocaine, nearly a kilogram of crack cocaine, over 625 grams of heroin, over 100 grams of fentanyl, 75 grams of acetyl fentanyl, 12 pounds of marijuana, 621 grams of hash oil, 24 grams of MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy), 120 grams of methamphetamine, and over $560,000 in cash. The narcotics seized have a street value of nearly $1 million.

To date, Operation High Tide defendants have been sentenced to a combined total of over 250 years in prison. Melton’s sentence is the latest in a series of convictions related to the investigation.

Melton’s charges include distribution of heroin, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and possession of an unregistered National Firearms Act firearm. He was sentenced on [no date provided] and will serve five years in prison.

This case is a reminder of the ongoing threat of narcotics trafficking and gun violence in our communities. The Portsmouth Police Department and the FBI worked together to bring Melton to justice. We hope that this sentence will serve as a deterrent to others who would engage in similar crimes.

Defendant Information: Shon E. Melton, 32, Portsmouth, VA

Criminal Charges: Distribution of heroin, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and possession of an unregistered National Firearms Act firearm

City and State: Portsmouth, VA

Exact Date: [No date provided]

Sentence: Five years in prison

Dollar Amounts: None provided

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