Three captured in drug sting accept plea deals in NK Circuit Court

Three defendants arrested during a November sting operation by the Twin Rivers Drug Task Force accepted plea deals during Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court.

Michael Anthony Winston, 45, of the 2300 block of Gray Street, Richmond, the prime target of the operation, accepted a plea deal to three counts each of cocaine distribution (first offense) and conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

In a summary of evidence, Winston admitted that last Nov. 14-20, he sold the substance to an undercover informant near the intersection of North Henpeck Road and Route 249 (New Kent Highway). Under the plea agreement, he received a 40-year prison sentence with an active term of seven years, eight months to serve on the first distribution count.

An additional 80 years on the other two counts, as well as 10 years on each of the three conspiracy charges, were suspended. He also must pay $410 in restitution.

Jenna Danielle Bley, 29, of the 2900 block of Chamberlayne Ave., Richmond, will serve three years in prison after accepting a plea deal to two amended charges of being an accommodation to the distribution of cocaine. Two charges of conspiracy were dropped as part of the agreement.

In a summary of evidence, Bley admitted she drove Winston to the scene when he made two of the illegal transactions. The agreement calls for seven years of a 10-year sentence to be suspended on the first charge, while all 10 years of the second charge were suspended. She must pay $360 in restitution.

Calvin Terrell Worthington, 28, of the 1300 block of Wallace Street, Richmond, accepted an agreement and entered guilty pleas to two counts of cocaine distribution (second offense). One count of conspiracy was dropped as part of the agreement.

In a summary of evidence, Worthington, another prime target for the Twin Rivers Drug Task Force, made deals with a confidential informant last Nov. 18 and 21. Under the deal, he received mandatory three-year prison sentences on each of the distribution charges, with 37 years suspended on each charge. He must pay $280 in restitution.

Judge Thomas B. Hoover dismissed charges lodged against a fourth defendant caught up in the sting operation. Reavell Lovonachek Williams, 28, of the 1200 block of Idlewood Dr., Richmond, had one charge each of cocaine distribution and conspiracy to distribute cocaine dismissed after the judge ruled Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory failed to provide sufficient evidence convicting the defendant of the crime.

Williams allegedly drove Worthington to New Kent for the latter to make a deal with a confidential informant. But Williams’ attorney, John March, argued that his client had no knowledge of the transaction and was only asked to drive because Worthington had no ride.

A video of the transaction did not provide sufficient evidence to implicate Williams. That was enough for Hoover to sustain March’s motions to strike both charges.

In other unrelated court proceedings on Monday:

–Jeffrey David Ross, 32, of the 3300 block of Lower Mountain Road, Sanborn, N.Y., will serve 14 months in incarceration. Ross entered guilty pleas during a Dec. 6 trial on one count of malicious wounding and misdemeanor violation of a protection order. Ross punched his former girlfriend last July 21 during an argument, with the woman suffering a broken nose and orbital bone. He later contacted the victim from New York, triggering the misdemeanor charge. Ross received a 20-year prison sentence, with 19 of those years suspended on the felony charge. He will serve two months of a 12-month sentence on the misdemeanor conviction and must pay total restitution of $7,725.59.

–Richard Lee Price Jr., 46, of the 1400 block of Overlook St., Richmond, accepted a plea deal to one count of possession of a firearm by a nonviolent felon. Price admitted that last Nov. 23, he tried to conceal a weapon after a state police trooper pulled him over for a traffic violation. Under the agreement, he received a five-year prison sentence, with all but seven months suspended.