Virginia Beach Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges

NORFOLK, Va. – Alonzo Diangelo Bell, 32, of Virginia Beach, pleaded guilty today to charges of manufacturing marijuana and maintaining drug-involved premises.

According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, in February of 2015, Virginia Beach Police conducted surveillance of a storage facility located at the corner of Maxey Drive and Virginia Beach Boulevard after an officer who had been patrolling the area detected a strong odor of marijuana.  Bell who had been observed exiting one of the units of the storage facility was stopped for speeding.  During the stop, officers detected the odor of marijuana and searched Bell’s vehicle, but no contraband was found.  Later, when the police contacted the manager of the storage facility to inquire about Bell, they were informed that several complaints had been made about the smell of marijuana coming from the units that Bell was renting.  The manager consented to a search of units adjacent to the units Bell was renting.  When police determined that the marijuana odor was coming from the two storage units being rented by Bell, search warrants were executed.  In one unit, the police found approximately 1883 grams of marijuana.  In the second unit, police discovered a marijuana grow operation consisting of approximately 30 mature plants, a carbon dioxide generator and grow lights. The total weight of the marijuana seized was approximately 4.665 kilograms.  Latent fingerprints belonging to Bell were found on various items in both units.

Bell was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 5, 2015. Bell faces maximum penalty of 30 years in prison when sentenced on Dec. 17, 2015.  Bell faces an enhanced maximum term of 10 years for manufacturing and possessing with intent to distribute marijuana and 20 years for maintaining drug-involved premises. 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 Clark E. Settles, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C. Field Office, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl Mitchell 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. 2:15-cr-99.

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