Man Sentenced to Prison for Drugs and Gun Crimes

RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to over 17 years in prison for distribution of crack cocaine, possession of a firearm after a felony conviction, and violations of supervised release.

“Firearms in the hands of drug distributors, especially those who have been previously convicted of a felony, are a deadly combination,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We will continue to aggressively pursue those who have forfeited their Second Amendment rights because of felony conviction, as well as those who represent the greatest danger to the community by pedaling poison and doing so while armed. It is not only reasonably foreseeable, but highly likely that guns in the hands of drug dealers result in deadly violence. I want to thank our investigative partners at ATF for their terrific work on this important case.”

According to court documents, in January 2017, Kevin A. Brown, 31, was the passenger in a vehicle stopped by Richmond Police officers. During a consensual search, the officers recovered a distributable quantity of crack cocaine from Brown. He subsequently admitted to the officers that he was selling the crack, and that on two occasions in October 2017, Brown sold quantities of crack cocaine in Richmond to a confidential informant working with the Richmond Police Department. Officers stopped Brown as he was leaving the second drug deal, and recovered the buy money for the crack deal, an additional quantity of crack, a quantity of heroin, and a .45 caliber revolver. Brown had previously been convicted of a felony, and was not legally permitted to possess the firearm.

“This is another good example of law enforcement working together to keep our communities safe,” said Thomas Chittum, ATF Special Agent in Charge, Washington Field Division. “Drug dealers who carry firearms are making a poor choice. This should serve as a warning to others who might do the same. We will work with our partners throughout Virginia to catch you and put you behind bars where you belong.”

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Thomas L. Chittum, III, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Miller and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Holli R. Wood prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:18-cr-50.