RICHMOND, Va. – A member of the criminal street gang H$2X (an acronym for “High Society Hit Squad”) was sentenced today to over 12 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin.

“We have taken a stand in Petersburg against the scourge of drug trafficking and related violence,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We have surged federal investigative and prosecutorial resources to Petersburg to root out criminal activity, and our partnerships with Chief Miller and the Petersburg Police, the ATF, along with other law enforcement entities are critical to this effort. Today’s sentencing of Miles “Buc J” Johnson should serve as a very clear indicator of what happens when you turn your back on your community, choose the easy way out of dealing drugs, and destroy the youth you claim to want to support.”

In 2017, in response to an increased level of violence that was taking place in Petersburg, ATF agents and members of the Petersburg Bureau of Police, began an investigation into the trafficking of firearms and narcotics, as well as other violent criminal activity. A group of individuals, who were later identified as members of H$2X, were suspected of being involved in trafficking narcotics and firearms.

“This investigation highlights ATF's partnership with Petersburg Police and our commitment to making our communities safer,” said Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division. “Firearms trafficking is not a victimless crime. When firearms are diverted to the illicit market, they often become tools of the trade for criminals. If you traffic in firearms or use firearms to commit other crimes, ATF is fully dedicated to bringing you to justice.”

Miles Johnson, aka “Buck J”, 39, is a member of H$2X. According to court documents, between March 2017 and February 2019, the investigation revealed that Johnson had distributed between one and three kilograms of heroin in the Petersburg metropolitan area and elsewhere.

“My top priority is the safety of the citizens of Petersburg and cleaning up our streets,” said Kenneth A. Miller, Director of Public Safety, Petersburg Bureau of Police. “As shown in this case, my department works closely with our law enforcement partners to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals and keep dangerous drugs out of our community. If you violate the law or if you harm our community, the Petersburg Police will use every tool at our disposal to see that you are held accountable.”

In March 2019, one dozen individuals, including Johnson, were indicted on various firearms and drug trafficking charges.

Below is a table containing information on defendants charged in this investigation.



Name, Age





Hometown





Charge(s)





Sentence





Armon Lee, 26





Warfield





Sale or Disposal of a Firearm to a Convicted Felon; Distribution of Cocaine





120 months





Terrell Dean Johnson, 30





Petersburg





Distribution of Cocaine





57 months





Titus Maurice Lee, 44





Petersburg





Distribution of Cocaine; Distribution of Heroin and/or Fentanyl; Possession of a Firearm/Ammunition by a Convicted Felon; Sale or Disposal of a Firearm to a Convicted Felon





192 months





Autrelle Malik Waddell, 22





Petersburg





Distribution of Heroin and/or Fentanyl; Sale or Disposal of a Firearm to a Convicted Felon





108 months





Miles Owanga Johnson, 39

 





Petersburg





Distribution of Heroin and/or Fentanyl





151 months





Charles Lee Avery, 44

 





Petersburg





Possession of a Firearm/Ammunition by a Convicted Felon





96 months





Tyrell Jakahree Allen, 26

 





Prince George





Distribution of Cocaine





36 months





John Pruitte





Chesterfield. VA





Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Heroin





18 months



  

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, and Kenneth A. Miller, Director of Public Safety, Petersburg Bureau of Police, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angela Mastandrea-Miller and Kenneth Simon are prosecuting the cases.

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 are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:19-cr-36.

RICHMOND, Va. – A Petersburg man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for trafficking narcotics and firearms.

“Armon Lee trafficked 21 firearms, including some that had obliterated serial numbers, to a felon he knew was prohibited from possessing them,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Lee knew that the guns were being sold for a nefarious purpose, and obliterated a number of serial numbers in an attempt to impede law enforcement’s ability to trace the firearms back to him. This successful investigation and prosecution is a testament to our terrific partnership with the ATF, and a reflection of our commitment to aggressively pursuing firearms traffickers in the Eastern District.”

According to court documents, Armon Lee, 26, was charged in a criminal indictment with seventeen counts of sale or disposal of firearms to a convicted felon and with distribution of “crack” cocaine between May 2018 and August 2018. In all, Lee trafficked 21 firearms to a felon who he knew was prohibited from possessing firearms. Four of the firearms that Lee sold had been previously reported stolen; seven of the firearms Lee trafficked were high capacity firearms in that each was capable of  holding more than 15 rounds of ammunition; two of the firearms Lee sold had their serial numbers obliterated. The criminal indictment also charged Lee with four counts of distribution or aiding and abetting in the distribution of “crack” cocaine.  In July 2018, Lee pleaded guilty to three of the counts set forth in the indictment, and was held responsible not only for illegally trafficking 21 firearms, but also for the distribution of more than 50 grams of cocaine base, commonly known as “crack.”

“Lee thought he could operate under the radar in Petersburg and evade detection. He was wrong,” said Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division. “ATF is putting all criminals engaged in firearms and narcotics trafficking on notice that we will continue to work with other law enforcement agencies, such as the Petersburg Police Department, to see to it that these dangerous individuals are brought to justice and held accountable under the law for their crimes. No longer will they threaten the safety and wellbeing of innocent citizens.”

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, and Kenneth A. Miller, Director of Public Safety, Petersburg Bureau of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Mastandrea-Miller 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 are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:19-cr-037.

RICHMOND, Va. – Over 150 law enforcement agents and officers executed a coordinated takedown this morning in Petersburg, arresting seven individuals on various drug and firearms charges including heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine distribution and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. An eighth individual was arrested in Texas and a ninth individual was already in custody on state charges.

“This operation represents our commitment to public safety in Petersburg,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Illegal firearms and drugs are often driving forces behind the violent crime that we are addressing in communities across the Eastern District. The actions taken today reflect the coordinated, skilled and brave work of law enforcement, and I want to thank the ATF and the Petersburg Bureau of Police for their partnership and commitment to reducing violent crime in Petersburg. These are serious allegations and each defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.”

“What we see today is the fruit of the strong partnership between ATF and the Petersburg Bureau of Police,” said Ashan Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division. “Going forward, ATF will continue to stand alongside the City of Petersburg and stay committed to targeting those who commit violent crimes and illegally possess firearms.”

“Today is a great day for our city,” said Kenneth Miller, Chief of Petersburg Bureau of Police. “The Petersburg Bureau of Police is committed to keeping our streets safe and making the City of Petersburg a better place to live. I’m extremely appreciative of our strong relationship with the ATF and our federal partners, and I look forward to continuing to work together to target those who choose to break the law. Today’s enforcement activity is a great example of our strategic approach going forward.”

Below is a table which lists the name, age, hometown, and respective charge(s) each defendant faces.



Name, Age





Hometown





Charge(s)





Armon Lee, 26





Warfield





Sale or Disposal of a Firearm to a Convicted Felon; Distribution of Cocaine





Terrell Dean Johnson, 30





Petersburg





Distribution of Cocaine





Titus Maurice Lee, 44





Petersburg





Distribution of Cocaine; Distribution of Heroin and/or Fentanyl; Possession of a Firearm/Ammunition by a Convicted Felon; Sale or Disposal of a Firearm to a Convicted Felon





Autrelle Malik Waddell, 22





Petersburg





Distribution of Heroin and/or Fentanyl; Sale or Disposal of a Firearm to a Convicted Felon





Miles Owanga Johnson, 39

 





Petersburg





Distribution of Heroin and/or Fentanyl





Charles Lee Avery, 44

 





Petersburg





Possession of a Firearm/Ammunition by a Convicted Felon





Tyrell Jakahree Allen, 26

 





Prince George





Distribution of Cocaine





Vincent Edward Stewart, 29

 





Petersburg





Sale or Disposal of a Firearm to a Convicted Felon





Calvin Alphonso Turner, 32

 





Petersburg





Distribution of Cocaine



This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, and Kenneth A. Miller, Chief of Petersburg Police, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angela Mastandrea-Miller and Peter S. Duffey are prosecuting the cases.

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.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.