Virginia Beach Crack Dealer Pleads Guilty
NORFOLK, Va. – Quinn Ausidi Goffigan, 35, of Virginia Beach, pleaded guilty today to charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base.
According to a statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Goffigan was caught selling crack cocaine at a Virginia Beach hotel on Feb. 19, 2014. Virginia Beach Police were conducting surveillance at the hotel and observed Goffigan engaging in a hand-to-hand transaction with another man. After Goffigan’s transaction concluded, police approached Goffigan and saw that he had a bag containing a number of off-white rocks in plain view in the car. Suspecting the off-white rocks were crack cocaine, police went to arrest Goffigan and he fled. Police were unable to catch Goffigan that night, but arrested him on state drug trafficking charges in connection with this incident two months later. The off-white rocks were sent to the Virginia Department of Forensic Science and tested positive for crack cocaine.
Goffigan was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 9, 2016. Due to the fact that he has seven prior felony drug trafficking convictions through the Virginia state courts, Goffigan faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison when sentenced on September 6, 2016. 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.
Dana J. Boente, 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 the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Hudson is 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. 2:16-cr-34.