Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to 120 Months

Editor's Note: This matter occurred on the date indicated but was not published at that time due to a lapse in federal appropriations. Press releases are posted and made available following the return to normal operations

ABINGDON, Va. – A Wise, Virginia man who conspired with others to traffic methamphetamine into Southwest Virginia was sentenced October 23 to 120 months in federal prison.

Keith Edward Payne, Jr., 46, previously pled guilty to two counts of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. 

According to court documents, Payne conspired with Ashley Beverly, Brandon Boggs, Bradley Chester, Cody Rose, James Gamble, Thomas Houston Jr., and others, to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine into Southwest Virginia.

Payne served as a major distributor for the conspiracy, regularly supplying multiple co-conspirators with up to one-fourth a pound of methamphetamine at a time. Most of Payne’s drug sales took place at his residence in Wise.  Payne also combined drug distribution with the possession of firearms.  A search warrant executed at Payne’s residence on the day of his arrest revealed 24 firearms, 2,954 rounds of assorted ammunition, digital scales, and drug packaging materials.

In April, co-conspirator Gamble was sentenced to 151 months in prison for his role in the conspiracy.  Bradley Chester was sentenced to 84 months and Cody Rose to 49 months for their roles in the conspiracy. Early this year, Houston was sentenced to 72 months.

Acting U.S. Robert N. Tracci and Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Southwest Drug Task Force, and Wise County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena Busscher prosecuted the case for the United States.