Two Members of Drug Organization Plead Guilty

NEWPORT NEWS, VA—Robert Edward Sargent, Jr., 42, and Kenny Jones, 31, both of Newport News, pled guilty today to their participation in a complex drug trafficking network operating between New York, California, and the Peninsula. Sargent pled guilty to participating in a criminal enterprise responsible for distributing between 50 to 150 kilograms of cocaine. Jones pled guilty to participating in the conspiracy to distribute narcotics.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after their pleas were accepted by United States District Judge Mark S. Davis.

Sargent and Jones were charged, along with 27 co-defendants, in a superseding indictment returned on January 10, 2012. According to court documents, Sargent ran a drug organization, located in the Aquaduct Apartments and Woodlawn Apartments in the Denbigh area of Newport News, responsible for dealing cocaine, cocaine base, and marijuana. Sources of supply in New York, California, Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas distributed quantities of drugs to Sargent for further distribution on the Virginia Peninsula. Beginning in 2000, Sargent was bringing in multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine from New York for redistribution. The drug proceeds were then transported back to New York. At some point in 2009-2010, Sargent began receiving shipments of drugs from California and then having the bulk currency payments hand delivered back to California. He employed a large network of couriers and distributors to make his organization successful. During the course of the conspiracy, Sargent had approximately $250,000 seized by law enforcement or stolen by co-conspirators yet he continued his operation. Jones was involved with re-distributing cocaine during the operation of the conspiracy.

Sargent faces a maximum sentence of life when he is sentenced on July 25, 2012. Jones also faces a maximum sentence of life when he is sentenced on June 28, 2012.

The following were also charged with crimes in the superseding indictment:

■Edwin Petty, a/k/a “Greasy,” 34, of Newport News, Virginia

■Kevin Forde, 37, of Newport News, Virginia

■John Banks, 43, of Newport News, Virginia

■Lamar Douglas, 28, of Newport News, Virginia

■Brandon Douglas, 27, of Newport News, Virginia

■Randy Fuller, 30, of Newport News, Virginia

■Rayon Fuller, 30, of Newport News, Virginia

■Douglas Ashby, 25, of Newport News, Virginia

■Maurice McLain, 28, of Newport News, Virginia

■Sean Rainey, 36, of Newport News, Virginia

■Wayne Turner, 29, of Newport News, Virginia

■Brian Jarvis, 31, of Newport News, Virginia

■Antoinette Ashby, 32, of Newport News, Virginia

■Ashley Burnett, Jr., 30, of Newport News, Virginia

■Mustaffah Muhammad, 24, of Newport News, Virginia

■Dennis McCourtney Hodge, 34, of Brentwood, New York

■Raymond Dayrell Brown, 34, of Charlotte, Virginia

■Dwayne Ivalle Hodge, 42, of Brentwood, New York

■Jermaine Antoine Edlow, 39, of Newport News, Virginia

■Larry Neal Williams, 46, of Newport News, Virginia

■James Edward Brown, 51, of Newport News, Virginia

■Alano Christobo Blanco, 45, of Newport News, Virginia

■David Kenneth Edlow, 55, of Newport News, Virginia

■Rosaura Sarita Arias, 59, of Newport News, Virginia

■Rosa Del Carmen Diarte, 52, of Lacy, Washington

■Alexander Sanchez, 22, of Nuevo, California

■Jaime Sanchez, 30, of Nueva, California

In addition to Sargent and Jones, 10 other co-defendants have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing. A jury trial for the remaining defendants is set for April 30, 2012 in Newport News Federal Court.

This case was investigated by the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HIS), Newport News Police Department, and Virginia State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Eric Hurt is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.