Jury Convicts New York Man of Drug Trafficking

RICHMOND, Va. – Michael Pankey, 29, of Brooklyn, New York, was convicted late yesterday by a federal jury on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride and heroin. 

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Pankey was stopped for speeding in Mecklenburg County by the Virginia State Police. Pankey was the sole occupant in a car that was rented 12 days earlier in North Carolina. A probable cause search of the car revealed 598 grams of cocaine hydrochloride and 54 grams of heroin in Pankey’s bag. Pankey admitted he was delivering the drugs from New York to an individual in South Carolina. 

Pankey faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when sentenced on Feb. 9, 2017. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case was investigated by the Virginia State Police with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Superintendent of Virginia State Police; Clark E. Settles, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington; and Karl C. Colder, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after the verdict was accepted by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:16-cr-179.