Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Man Sentenced for Distributing Cocaine and Heroin in Hampton Roads
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Hampton man was sentenced yesterday to over seven years in prison after for distributing cocaine and heroin in Hampton Roads.
According to court documents, in May a federal jury convicted Erick Allen Osby, 24, of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin.
In September 2018, Osby, who had active warrants for his arrest regarding narcotics distribution charges out of Hampton at the time, was observed by law enforcement approaching multiple vehicles parked in a residential area of 72nd Street in Newport News and acting in a manner consistent with drug trafficking. Osby appeared to be distributing and receiving items to and from a white shoulder bag that he was wearing. Upon entering the back seat of one of the vehicles, law enforcement moved in and arrested Osby. Inside the white shoulder bag was a bag of heroin, suspected narcotics packaging material, and Osby’s identification card. A bag of cocaine was also found on top of the shoulder bag and Osby had nearly $2,000 in cash and a digital scale on his person.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, and Terry L. Sult, Chief of Hampton Police Division, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter G. Osyf prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:19-cr-9.
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