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 Note: Will not publish letters in print editions from online users who do not reside in print circulation area, unless they are former residents or have some current connection to Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?186 (Oxycontin) 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager