On March 5, a jury convicted Samuel Lebron, a 40-year old resident of Laconia, N.H., of several felonies relating to his role as an organizer of a heroin racketeering organization that operated in the City of Alexandria.
Lebron was convicted of five counts: Conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin, conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, conspiracy to transport more than one ounce of heroin into Virginia and conspiracy to transport more than one ounce of cocaine into Virginia. The matter was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney David Lord and Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Joseph Martin.
On March 6, the jury reconvened and recommended that Lebron serve the following sentence:
On Count One, Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering: 10 years to serve in the penitentiary and a fine of $50,000; On Count Two, Conspiracy to Distribute More Than 1 Kilogram of Heroin: 25 years to serve in the penitentiary and a fine of $100,000; On Count Three, Conspiracy to Distribute More than 500 grams of cocaine: 15 years to serve in the penitentiary and a fine of $100,000; On Count 4: Conspiracy to Transport at least 1 ounce of Heroin into the Commonwealth: 10 years in the penitentiary and a fine of $50,000; and On Count 5: Conspiracy to Transport at least 1 ounce of Cocaine into the Commonwealth: 10 years in the penitentiary and a fine of $50,000.
The recommended jury sentence totaled 70 years in prison and a fine of $350,000.
Under Virginia law, a jury is allowed to recommend a sentence to the presiding judge. However, the judge maintains the ultimate responsibility for sentencing the defendant. The judge will pronounce sentence at a hearing that is currently scheduled for April 18. At this hearing, the judge will hear evidence and argument from the parties and may either accept or reduce the jury’s recommended sentence. The judge is not empowered to increase the sentence.
The evidence established that, over the course of the conspiracy, Lebron worked with multiple individuals to transport large amounts of cocaine and heroin from New York into the Commonwealth for further distribution. The drugs were sold in Alexandria and surrounding jurisdictions. Lebron would meet with local drug distributors both in Virginia and in New York for the purpose of receiving payment and resupplying the distributors with additional narcotics.
The defendant is incarcerated in the William G. Truesdale Alexandria Adult Detention Center pending the sentencing hearing.