Two Men Plead Guilty to Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

NORFOLK, Va. – Two Portsmouth men pleaded guilty today to their involvement in a massive heroin and crack cocaine conspiracy in Hampton Roads.

According to court documents, Antonio Brown, aka “Tony Legal,” 42, and Roman Hurdle, aka “Rome,” 38, were part of a massive heroin and crack cocaine drug-trafficking conspiracy in Hampton Roads. Brown was a lieutenant in the organization, which included at least 10 participants, and Hurdle was Brown’s driver and crack manufacturer, or “cook.” Altogether, the two are responsible for distributing roughly three kilograms of heroin, four kilograms of crack, and over 20 kilograms of powder cocaine.

Each man pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and crack cocaine. They both face a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison when sentenced on June 18. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Karl C. Colder, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar accepted the pleas. Assistant U.S. Attorney William B. Jackson is prosecuting the case.

The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), Operation Promotional Deceit. The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:18-cr-40.