NORFOLK, Va. - Antonio Anderson, 28, of Newport News, Va., and Ashlee Bunn, 29, of Nashville, Tenn., were charged today for allegedly possessing approximately 700 pounds of marijuana – which has an estimated street value of more than $1 million.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia made the announcement.  United States Magistrate Judge Douglas Miller found probable cause to charge both defendants.  They were arrested in Virginia Beach on March 23, 2010 and are pending transfer to federal court next week.

Anderson and Bunn were charged by criminal complaint today in Norfolk federal court of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana. If convicted, they both face up to a maximum of 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $2 million, and four years of supervised release. 

According to court documents, on March 23, 2010, Bunn, assisted by Anderson, possessed approximately 225 pounds of marijuana in Virginia Beach, Va.  A search of a residence tied to Bunn resulted in the recovery of over $50,000 and a gun.  Afterwards, through additional joint investigations by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Virginia Beach Police Department, a search warrant was executed on March 24, 2010 in Nashville, which resulted in the recovery of approximately 475 pounds of marijuana linked to Bunn and co-conspirators.  Bunn had attempted to get co-conspirators to move the load of marijuana before law enforcement officials could seize it.  One individual related to the investigation was arrested in Tennessee. 

            This case was investigated jointly by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Virginia Beach Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Comstock is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
               
Criminal complaints are only charges and not evidence of guilt.  Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov.

 

 

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