Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Wise Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Traffic Methamphetamine From Atlanta, Georgia Into Lee and Wise Counties
ABINGDON, Va. – A Wise, Virginia man was sentenced yesterday to 135 months in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.
Justin Shane Cress, 33, pleaded guilty in October 2021 to one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, between July 2019 and December 2020, Cress conspired with co-defendants Daniel Eugene Rowland, Jonathan Adam Rollins, Eric Matthew Glass, and others to distribute methamphetamine throughout Lee and Wise counties in Virginia. Cress served as a “middle-man,” facilitating multi-kilogram sales of methamphetamine between co-defendants in southwest Virginia and a source of supply in Atlanta, Georgia. Additionally, Cress directly distributed significant quantities of methamphetamine in Lee and Wise counties.
Co-defendant Cory Austin Hammond was previously sentenced to 135 months in prison for his role in the same conspiracy. The remaining co-conspirators are scheduled to be sentenced in federal court later this month.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, and the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena Busscher prosecuted the case.