Pubdate: Tue, 25 Sep 2001
Source: Kingsport Times-News (TN)
Copyright: 2001 Kingsport Publishing Corporation
Contact:  http://www.timesnews.net/index.cgi
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1437
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LARGEST OXYCONTIN BUST IN THE COUNTRY

Members Of Oxycontin Ring Plead Guilty In Federal Court

ABINGDON - Seven Lee Countians pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to 
distributing more than 66,000 OxyContin pills with a street value of over 
$2.3 million, said U.S. Attorney John L. Brownlee.

The pleas are the result of an investigation that took more than a year and 
involved individuals in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. 
Those who pleaded guilty were Jerry Wayne Robinson, the alleged kingpin of 
the drug-selling organization, Tammy Hess, James Dierth, Janet Hess, 
Crystal Alsup, Tammy Gibson and Julie Stapleton.

Robinson pleaded guilty to managing a continuing criminal enterprise, made 
up of at least five individuals, from which he derived substantial income, 
said Brownlee in a news release.

Robinson further admitted that this organization was responsible for the 
distribution of more than 66,000 OxyContin pills between October 1998 and 
January 2001.

He additionally pleaded guilty to using a firearm during a drug-trafficking 
crime, which involved trading firearms for pills last July. He faces a 
mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison with a maximum of life in 
prison and a fine of up to $2.25 million.

Deirth pleaded guilty to distribution of 2,599 pills, while Janet Hess 
pleaded guilty to distribution of 435 pills. Tammy Hess pleaded guilty to 
distribution of oxycodone. Alsup pleaded guilty to distribution of 3,284 
OxyContin pills, Gibson pleaded guilty to distribution of 1,921 pills, and 
Stapleton pleaded guilty to distribution of 2,500 pills. Each of these six 
defendants faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million. They 
will be sentenced Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. at the federal courthouse in Abingdon.

The investigation was done by a joint task force composed of members from 
the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and 
Firearms; the Virginia State Police; and the Lee County Sheriff's Office. 
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt.
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