Manassas Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin Trafficking

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – On the eve of trial, Bryan Christopher Samuel, 38, of Manassas, Virginia, pleaded guilty last night to conspiracy to distribute 700 grams or more of heroin and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Andrew G. McCabe, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis, III.

Samuel was most recently indicted by a federal grand jury on December 16, 2014.  He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. 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.

According to the statement of facts filed along with the plea agreement, Samuel obtained distribution quantities of heroin from various sources of supply around the D.C. metro area as well as the I-95 corridor.  Typically, Samuel and his co-conspirators would repackage the larger quantities of heroin purchased into individual user amounts, which they would then sell throughout Prince William County, Virginia.  In addition, Samuel possessed a firearm, which he used for protection once he began buying and selling larger quantities of narcotics as well as during the robbery of a perceived rival drug dealer.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office with assistance from the Manassas City Police Department.  Special Assistant United States Attorneys John Taddei and Elizabeth Eriksen, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zach Terwilliger are 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. 1:14CR351.