Eight Arrested for Distributing Pounds of Methamphetamine in Western Virginia, Eastern TennesseeArticle

ABINGDON, Va. – Eight individuals, including an illegal alien, were arrested yesterday for distributing over 250 pounds of methamphetamine in Eastern Tennessee and Western Virginia. Following an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm, and Explosives, the United States Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Hawkins County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Office, the Kingsport Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Unit, the Scott County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations, the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force, the Washington County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Office, the Johnson City, Tennessee Police Department, and the Abingdon, Virginia Police Department, the following have been arrested and charged via federal criminal complaint with conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Israel Barajas-Ramirez, 37, of Church Hill, TennesseeEmily Katlyn Vaughn, 26, of Church Hill, TennesseeChristy Marie Thomas, 43, of Kingsport, TennesseeBenny Charles Larkins, 61, of Gate City, VirginiaShannon Dwayne Jarvis, 50, of Gate City, VirginiaMarcy Lee Hedrick, 55, of Kingsport, TennesseeTiffany Michelle Shipley, 34, of Kingsport, TennesseeAndrew Todd Douglas, 50, of Kingsport, TennesseeAccording to court documents, beginning in October 2024 and continuing until the present, law enforcement have been investigating individuals believed to be conspiring to commit drug trafficking and firearm-related offenses in and around Scott County, Virginia, Washington County, Virginia, Hawkins County, Tennessee, and Washington County, Tennessee, in relation to the charged conspiracy. The conspirators allegedly distributed hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine into Western Virginia and Eastern Tennessee, with some conspirators illegally possessing firearms.

First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci District of Virginia, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and HSI Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf made the announcement.Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena Busscher is prosecuting the case.A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.