Portsmouth Heroin Dealer Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison
NORFOLK, Va. – Michael Lanell Easley, Jr., 36, of Portsmouth, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, and for possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Easley pleaded guilty on May 25. According to court documents, Easley maintained a residence on Riverview Avenue in Portsmouth for the purpose of manufacturing and distributing heroin. On Nov. 23, 2015, federal agents and state law enforcement executed an arrest and search warrant. As the agents and officers approached Easley, he ingested a significant amount of heroin. In an effort to save Easley’s life, an ambulance was called and he was rushed to the hospital. Easley came close to cardiac arrest several times during the trip, but doctors were able to stabilize him and he survived. During the search of Easley’s home, agents and officers recovered heroin and a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Mark R. Herring, Attorney General of Virginia; James A. Cervera, Chief of Virginia Beach Police Department; 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 Raymond A. Jackson. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph E. DePadilla and Andrew C. Bosse, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John F. Butler 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. 2:16-cr-44.