Norfolk Men Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and other Narcotics

NORFOLK, Va. – Cornelius J. Gaymon, 35, of Norfolk, a 10-time convicted felon, was sentenced today to 151 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin.  Co-conspirator Tedrick O. Speller, 33, of Norfolk, was sentenced to 84 months in prison on Oct. 5, 2015.

Gaymon pleaded guilty on June 24, 2015, and Tedrick Speller pleaded guilty on June 23, 2015.  According to court documents, law enforcement officers conducted several undercover purchases of crack cocaine from Speller before executing a search warrant on his residence in the Berkley neighborhood of Norfolk.  Nearly 40 officers from Norfolk’s Special Operations Team and Vice and Narcotics division participated in the execution of the warrant and recovered over $32,000 worth of heroin, crack cocaine, cocaine, and marijuana.  Officers also seized digital scales, drug packaging materials, several thousand dollars, and five firearms.  One firearm was stolen, another had a high capacity extended magazine, and another weapon’s serial number was obliterated.  Speller also maintained a storage unit, which contained nearly $50,000.  In Gaymon’s room, officers recovered a Black-Bull industrial size, six-ton hydraulic press machine used to “cut” and re-press heroin and other narcotics with cutting agents to expand volume and profitability.

Gaymon, a former Bloods gang member, attempted to escape from the arresting officers twice, once through a second floor window and again while in handcuffs.  He had recently been released from a six-year prison term for distributing cocaine.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Mark R. Herring, Attorney General of Virginia; and Karl C. Colder, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.  Chief U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith sentenced Speller.

This case was investigated by the DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force with the assistance of the Norfolk Police Department.  Virginia Assistant Attorney General and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John F. Butler and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew C. Bosse prosecuted 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. 2:15-cr-66 (Gaymon) and 2:15-cr-67 (Speller).                                                     

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