News

LYNCHBURG, Va. – A Lynchburg man, who distributed thousands of fentanyl pills, pounds of methamphetamine, and kilograms of cocaine, among other drugs, while possessing a firearm, was sentenced to 280 months in federal prison. 

This investigation was brought as part of the revamped Project Safe Neighborhoods, a combined law enforcement initiative that aims to provide a rapid response to violent crime, conduct strategic federal, state, local, and tribal partnerships, and increase accountability and deterrence to promote public safety. 

John Coleman, III, 35, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A Salvadoran national, whose green card has been revoked, pled guilty to sexually exploiting a 16-year-old girl (MV1) and filming the encounter. 

Bryan Arias-Chicas, 23, a citizen of El Salvador, pled guilty yesterday to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor. 

ABINGDON, Va. – Eight individuals, including an illegal alien, were arrested yesterday for distributing over 250 pounds of methamphetamine in Eastern Tennessee and Western Virginia. 

ABINGDON, Va. – A Wise County, Virginia woman, who distributed hundreds of grams of cocaine and Psilocybin, was sentenced to five years in federal prison. 

Emily Dawn McCoy, 27, of Pound, Va., pled guilty to one count of possessing with the intent to distribute and distributing 500 grams or more of cocaine and one count of possessing with the intent to distribute and distributing Psilocyn. 

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A Fluvanna County man, who used social media platforms to sell hundreds of fraudulent IDs to underage customers, pled guilty in U.S. District Court. 

Sebastian Andres Arquilla, 22, of Palmyra, Virginia, pled guilty to knowingly transferring in the mail false identification documents that were and appeared to be driver’s licenses. 

ROANOKE, Va. – A Mexican citizen, living illegally in Danville, Virginia, was arraigned in federal court this week on charges of illegal reentry of a previously removed alien, unlawful possession of a firearm as a felon and alien illegally in the United States, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of fraudulent immigration documents. 

Fernando Bahena Ruiz, 28, was charged based on an incident on March 25, 2026. 

ABINGDON, Va. – A Florida woman pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to execute a business email compromise scheme that stole more than $3 million from victims throughout the United States. 

Zamar McPherson, 49, of Boynton Beach, Florida, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud and two counts of wire fraud. She has agreed to pay restitution for the entire scope of her criminal conduct.  In addition, she has agreed to forfeit $154,474.85. 

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – An illegal alien from Mexico, living locally in Keswick, Virginia, was sentenced today to eight months in federal prison for illegally possessing a gun while being in the United States unlawfully. 

Javier Bernal-Lopez, 38, pled guilty to illegal possession of a firearm while being unlawfully in the United States.

ABINGDON, Va. – A Tennessee man, who trafficked fentanyl-laced pills and fentanyl powder into Southwest Virginia, including to the parking lot of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Bristol, Virginia, was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison. 

Jermaine Crayton Jr., 20, of Chattanooga, Tenn. pled guilty in February to one count of conspiracy possess with the intent to distribute and distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

ROANOKE, Va. – A personal care attendant, contracted with the Department of Veteran Affairs to provide personal care services to veterans, pled guilty to stealing from a Vietnam War Veteran she was tasked with caring for. 

Melissa Diana Simmons, 50, of Boones Mill, Virginia, pled guilty to forgery of government checks.  Simmons and co-defendant James Patrick Brown were indicted in 2025. 

HARRISONBURG, Va. – An immigrant from Mexico, who lied about her identity for more than 30 years to obtain immigration documents and other benefits, pled guilty to a pair of federal charges. 

Candy Lazo, a.k.a. “Candida Jimenez Lazo” a.k.a. “Natalia Perez de Cruz” a.k.a. “Natalia Perez,” 53, pled guilty to one count of passport fraud and one count of theft of government funds. 

ROANOKE, Va. – A married couple was sentenced today to lengthy prison terms for grooming a teenager online before picking her up in Virginia and repeatedly sexually abusing her as they drove back to their apartment in Missouri.

Justin Johiah Curtright, 41, was sentenced today to 45 years in federal prison. His wife, Christin Marie Curtright, 33, was sentenced to 27 years. The Curtrights, of Springfield, Missouri, pled guilty in 2025 to sexual exploitation of a minor and transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.