Fries Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Charge

Roanoke, VIRGINIA – A Fries woman, who conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in and around the Hillsville and Galax regions of Virginia, pled guilty today in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Roanoke, United States Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr. announced.

Bianca Victoria Aroche, 23, of Fries, Va., pled guilty today to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. At sentencing, Aroche faces a maximum possible penalty of up to 40 years in federal prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison.

“We will continue to work to stop the flow of methamphetamine into our communities,” United States Attorney Fishwick said today. “Methamphetamine addiction ruins lives and those who traffic in this drug must be stopped.”

According to evidence presented to the court by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley B. Neese, Aroche, and others, distributed methamphetamine in and around Hillsville and Galax beginning around the spring of 2014 and continuing until at least August 2014.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Virginia State Police, the Galax Police Department, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Ashley B. Neese prosecuted the case for the United States.