Operation Riptide Results in 17 Convictions, Over 100 years in Prison

NORFOLK, Va. – Approximately 14 months ago over 150 law enforcement agents and officers executed a massive takedown, arresting dozens of individuals for their respective roles in selling drugs and guns in Norfolk. 

Today, the 17th and final federal defendant, Kenneth Robinson, 51, of Norfolk, was sentenced to 37 months in prison. The Operation Riptide defendants have collectively been sentenced to a total of over 106 years in prison.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began Operation Riptide in the Fall of 2016, and in collaboration with the Norfolk Police Department, Virginia State Police, and prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s 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 60 firearms (including at least 3 assault rifles, 2 sawed off shotguns, and over 50 hand guns, 18 of which had obliterated serial numbers or were stolen), over 175 grams of heroin, 65 grams of powder cocaine, 337 grams of crack cocaine, over three pounds of marijuana, and two bulletproof vests.

Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Mark R. Herring, Attorney General of Virginia, Thomas L. Chittum, III, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division, Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of Virginia State Police, and Larry D. Boone, Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry Coke Morgan, Jr.

This case was investigated by the ATF’s Norfolk Field Office, the Norfolk Police Department, and the Virginia State Police with the assistance of the Virginia Beach and Chesapeake Police Departments, the Norfolk and Chesapeake Sheriff’s Offices, and the Virginia National Guard. 

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John F. Butler, 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, Assistant Attorney General James F. Entas, Office of the Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia, and Norfolk Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Catherine Paxson are prosecuting these cases.

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 Nos. 2:17-cr-21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 54, 64, 128.