Southwest Virginia Drug Ring Arrested for Trafficking Fentanyl, Methamphetamine

ABINGDON, Va. - Ten individuals who conspired to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl throughout Southwest Virginia were arrested last week on federal charges.

Arrested last week are:

1. Matthew Ryan "Red" Addington, of Pound, Va.
2. Ashley Linden Beverly Jr., of Pound, Va.
3. Brandon Gene Boggs, of Pound, Va.
4. Eric Lee Coffey, of Norton, Va.
5. James Eugene Gamble, of Wise, Va.
6. Thomas Ray Houston Jr., of Blountville, Tenn.
7. Keith Edward Payne Jr., of Wise, Va.
8. Brittany Chantae Rose, of Pound, Va.
9. Cody Allan Rose, of Pound, Va.
10. Andora Lee Smith, of Pound, Va. and Mayking, Kentucky

According to court documents, between 2021 and 2024, law enforcement in Wise County, Virginia investigated the widespread distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl by the ten defendants and subsequently made various arrests after conducting interviews and executing controlled drug buys from multiple members of the conspiracy. The investigation revealed that members of the drug ring traveled to drug supply sources in both North Carolina and Kentucky to obtain multiple pounds of fentanyl pills, fentanyl powder, and methamphetamine and then brought the drugs back to southwest Virginia for further distribution.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and James VanVliet, Acting 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, the Wise County Sheriff's Office, the Southwest Drug Task Force (consisting of the Wise County Sheriff's Office, Scott County Sheriff's Office, Lee County Sheriff's Office, Norton Police Department, Big Stone Gap Police Department, and Virginia State Police), the Clintwood Police Department, the Pennington Gap Police Department, the Lee County Sheriff's Office, the Dickenson County Sheriff's Office, the Kentucky State Police, the Winchester (KY) Police Department, the Fleming-Neon (KY) Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena Busscher is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.