Two More Sentenced for Roles in Southwest Virginia Meth Conspiracy

ABINGDON, Va. – A pair of Tennessee men, who conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine and heroin in northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia, were sentenced last week in U.S. District Court in Abingdon.

Darin Kent Thomas, 38, of Strawberry Pines, Tennessee, previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He was sentenced last week to 61 months in federal prison.

Garrett Teffeteller, 43, of Knoxville, Tennessee, previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced last week to 48 months in federal prison.

According to court documents, Thomas and Teffeteller conspired with others to sell crystal methamphetamine and heroin, including sales to individuals who resold the drugs in and around Lee County, Virginia. Teffeteller was a regular source of supply for methamphetamine to other conspiracy members.

Thomas, who is a former package delivery driver in the Knoxville, Tennessee area, stole a revolver from a package at his former place of employment and traded the gun for heroin.  The stolen firearm was then traded again to another member of the conspiracy in exchange for drugs and ultimately ended up in the hands of an undercover law enforcement officer in Lee County, Virginia.  Thomas also sold heroin to several of his former coworkers.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Special Agent in Charge Craig B. Kailimai of the Washington Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Virginia State Police, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Knox County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Office, and the Sevier County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher prosecuted the case.