ABINGDON, VIRGINIA -- A Michigan man who was responsible for supplying a number of OxyContin distribution networks in Southwest Virginia was sentenced yesterday in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Abingdon.

David Hubert Martin, 44, a.k.a. “Kingpin” of Romulus, MI., was sentenced to ten years imprisonment for his role as the supplier of a multi-state OxyContin distribution conspiracy led by April Shannon Hutson. He had previously entered a plea of guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute OxyContin. Martin was also ordered to forfeit to the United States more than $75,000 in United States currency, multiple pieces of diamond jewelry, and a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro which had been used as the Official Pace Car of the 1969 Indianapolis 500.

“Mr. Martin provided large amounts of illegal prescription drugs that kept residents of Southwest Virginia stuck in a world of addiction,” United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said today. “Prescription drug addiction is a nationwide epidemic which will only be curtailed through prevention efforts and stopping those who bring these drugs into our communities.”

According to evidence presented at prior hearings and the sentencing hearing, Martin was responsible for supplying the distribution organization of April Shannon Hutson with large quantities of OxyContin, which was then distributed in both Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

Martin admitted that he was responsible for the distribution of at least 18,657 OxyContin pills to the organization during 2008 and 2009. Martin had multiple individuals who acted as runners and transported OxyContin pills from Detroit, MI, to Hutson and others in Sullivan County, TN, and then transported the proceeds of the drug transactions back to Martin in Detroit.

In June 2009, one of Martin’s runners was found to be in possession of $75,220.00 in United States currency which were the proceeds from the sale of 1,827 OxyContin 80 mg pills and 1,333 Lortabs to April Shannon Hutson. Hutson and 37 other members of the drug trafficking conspiracy have pleaded guilty or been found guilty and have been sentenced to a total of 2,903 months imprisonment.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service, United States Marshals Service, Bristol, Tennessee Police Department, Bristol, Virginia Police Department, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, Washington County, Virginia Sheriff’s Department, Virginia State Police, and the 2nd Judicial District Drug Task Force. The investigation was assisted by the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee of the United States Attorney’s Office in Abingdon is prosecuting the case.

 

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