10 Convictions from Operation Riptide in Six Weeks Since Arrests

NORFOLK, Va. – On March 1 over 150 law enforcement agents and officers executed a major takedown, arresting dozens of individuals for their respective roles in selling drugs and guns in Norfolk. Today, two more federal defendants pleaded guilty to firearm and drug charges, bringing the total convictions to 10 in the six weeks since the takedown.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) began Operation Riptide in the Fall of 2016, and in collaboration with the Norfolk Police Department, Virginia State Police, and prosecutors from this office and the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, identified more than 30 individuals throughout Hampton Roads who were illegally selling firearms, heroin, and/or other narcotics. Operation Riptide resulted in the recovery of over 50 firearms (including at least 3 assault rifles, 2 sawed off shotguns, and 47 hand guns, 18 of which had obliterated serial numbers or were stolen), over 170 grams of heroin, 65 grams of powder cocaine, 290 grams of crack cocaine, and a bullet proof vest.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Mark R. Herring, Attorney General of Virginia; Michael B. Boxler, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division; and Larry Boone, Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson and U.S. Magistrate Judge Lawrence Leonard accepted the pleas for the ninth and tenth federal defendants.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew C. Bosse, Kevin M. Comstock, Joseph E. DePadilla, Kevin Hudson, William B. Jackson, William D. Muhr, and Daniel T. Young, along with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John F. Butler, James F. Entas, of the Virginia Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Unit, and Norfolk Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Catherine Paxson.

The ATF’s Norfolk Field Office, the Norfolk Police Department, and the Virginia State Police investigated this case with assistance from the Virginia Beach and Chesapeake Police Departments, and the Norfolk and Chesapeake Sheriff’s Offices.

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 by searching for Case Nos. 2:17-cr-Case Nos. 2:17-cr-21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 32, 34, 36, 37.