A judge has handed down the first prison sentence in a yearlong drug investigation by Waynesboro police and the WASSP Task Force.
Juan Rodrigues, 22, an undocumented immigrant, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison for cocaine distribution. The sentence falls near the upper end of sentencing guidelines. Commonwealth’s Attorney Charles Ajemian said.
Cases against four other alleged Waynesboro dealers were continued or set for trials. Another suspect, Ryan Clinton, Durrette, 26, pleaded guilty but was not sentenced.
After spending $16,000 on street-level buys, police and the task force arrested 21 of 28 suspected drug dealers Oct. 14, and made four more arrests in subsequent weeks, but Ajemian moved Oct. 31 not to prosecute 15 suspects, including some fugitives, after a confidential informant “fell apart” under questioning.
Terrance Shawn Vest, 30, of Waynesboro, remains a fugitive on cocaine dealing charges.
Durrette pleaded guilty to two charges of cocaine distribution Wednesday. Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney David Ledbetter said the Waynesboro man twice sold less than a gram of cocaine to an undercover informant — in parking lots at the Willow Oak Shopping Center and Speedy’s Food Mart. Because of a Sept. 24 guilty plea for distribution, Ledbetter requested sentences be combined at a future hearing.
Attorneys agreed to jury trials next year for Cynthia Ann Smith, 45, and Tashia Leigh Moore, 33. Court records show Moore previously was convicted of check forgery and grand larceny. Hearings were continued for Vanessa R. Martin, 37, and Sterling Randall Wade, 29.
Three suspects have Nov. 26 hearings, court records show.
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