Final Defendant Pleads Guilty in Crack Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The sixth and final defendant in a multi-state crack cocaine and firearms distribution investigation pleaded guilty today to his role in the conspiracy. As part of this case, ATF Agents and the Prince William County Police seized more than 20 firearms and 800 grams of crack.

According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Steve Pate, 41, of Shannon, North Carolina, engaged in a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine from at least May 2016 through February 2017. As part of the conspiracy, Pate would purchase cocaine, which he would prepare into crack. Pate would then supply the crack to co-conspirators Jerry Bullard and Cedric McEachern, who sold the drugs from a trailer in Robeson County, North Carolina.

As part of the conspiracy, co-conspirators Kristie Middleton and Kevin Shaw traveled from Virginia to purchase multi-ounce quantities of crack from Bullard and McEachern, and firearms from Bullard. Middleton and Shaw then returned to Dale City, where they redistributed the crack and possessed and sold firearms alongside co-defendant Nifer McLaurin. See the table below for information on each defendant in this case.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Michael B. Boxler, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division; and Stephan M. Hudson, Chief of Prince William County Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tobias D. Tobler is prosecuting 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 is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:17-cr-149.