ABINGDON, Va.– A Bristol, Virginia man, who made false statements about his drug use during a hearing related to his federal supervision, was sentenced this week to 30 months in federal prison.

According to court documents, Amanza James Pollino, 41, was on supervised release following a 2008 conviction for conspiracy to distribute cocaine.  Pollino served a 120-month sentence before being placed on supervised release in 2018.   

On December 14, 2020, Pollino appeared before the Federal District Court for violating his supervised release.  At the hearing, Pollino testified under oath that he had not used a controlled substance, including cocaine, in more than a month and a half, or around approximately November 2020. However, evidence presented at trial showed Pollino tested positive for cocaine immediately following his testimony at an earlier hearing. He eventually admitted using cocaine on December 6, 2020—six days before the hearing.

Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar of the Western District of Virginia made the announcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lena Busscher and Randy Ramseyer prosecuted the case.