Gordonsville Man Indicted On Drug Charges

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA -- A Gordonsville man was recently indicted by a Federal grand jury sitting in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Charlottesville on charges related to the manufacturing of methamphetamine.

On February 27, the grand jury charged Jerry Richard Blackwell, 43, of Gordonsville, Va., with one count of conspiring to manufacture, to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine, one count of possessing pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine and one count of manufacturing methamphetamine while creating a substantial risk of harm to human life.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Blue Ridge Narcotics and Gang Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Special Assistant United States Attorney Robert Abendroth is prosecuting the case for the United States.

At sentencing, Blackwell faces a sentence of 10 years to life in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000,000 on count one, a maximum possible penalty of up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000 on count two and a maximum possible penalty of up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000 on count three.

A Grand Jury indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.