Defendants Plead Guilty to Methamphetamine Charges

ABINGDON, VIRGINIA – Four Southwest Virginia residents pled guilty in recent weeks in Federal Court to charges related to the manufacturing of methamphetamine, United States Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr. and Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring announced.

Dana Lynn Vanmeter, 44, of Glade Spring, Virginia, pled guilty on August 4, 2016, to one count of conspiring to manufacture methamphetamine, one count of using or maintaining a place for the purpose of manufacturing, distributing, and using methamphetamine, and one count of manufacturing or attempting to manufacture methamphetamine where a minor resided or was present.

April Darlene Fields, 37, of Glade Spring, Virginia, pled guilty on September 19, 2016, to one count of conspiring to manufacture methamphetamine and one count of manufacturing or attempting to manufacture methamphetamine where a minor resided or was present.

John Steven Fields, 40, of Abingdon, Virginia, and Shauna Danielle Davie, 25, of Meadowview, Virginia, both plead guilty in July 2016 to one count each of conspiring to manufacture methamphetamine.  

“Manufacturing methamphetamine is an inherently dangerous process and creates a significant risk of harm to our communities.  Our office takes these cases very seriously, particularly where children are present or reside, and will continue to vigorously prosecute these offenses,” United States Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr. said today. “We will continue to work with our partners in law enforcement to slow the spread of this deadly drug throughout Virginia.”

“Methamphetamine is a highly dangerous, addictive drug that can and has caused tremendous destruction in families across Virginia,” stated Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring.  “We are doing everything in our power to educate the public about the dangers of this drug and prosecute those that manufacture and bring it into our state, endangering the safety of our children and communities.  Public safety is our number one priority.”     

Agencies involved in this investigation included the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Town of Abingdon Police Department, Town of Damascus Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Special Assistant United States Attorney M. Suzanne Kerney-Quillen, a Virginia Assistant Attorney General assigned to the Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section, is prosecuting the case for the United States.