Pair Sentenced to 10 Years for Distributing Methamphetamine, Heroin, Cocaine, and Fentanyl in Roanoke Area

DOJ Press January 27, 2022

Methamphetamine also known as crystal meth

ROANOKE, Va. – Two more members of a drug conspiracy have been sentenced in federal court for their role in the distribution of deadly narcotics.

Kenneth Tito Beaner, 27, and Nathan Jamal Nelms, 26, both of Roanoke, Virginia, were sentenced this week to serve 120 months each in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, 100 grams or more of heroin, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and cocaine.

“Our focus on prosecuting violent crime in the Roanoke region remains steadfast,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “This case provides an excellent example of the great work we can accomplish working with our federal, state, and local partners in law enforcement.”

“Combating violent gun crime and narcotics distribution within our communities is a job we take very seriously,” said ATF Washington Field Division Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson. “We will continue collaborate with our partners to disrupt the illegal possession of firearms, distribution of narcotics and other acts of violence within our community.”

According to court documents, from at least May 2018 until September 2019, Beaner and Nelms supported their principal co-conspirators, Antonio Waddell and Jarod Alston, by selling a variety of illegal narcotics from a residence on Crescent Street NW in the City of Roanoke.

According to witnesses in the case, members of the conspiracy facilitated sales of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl cooperatively by serving each other’s customers as needed and participating jointly in drug sales. Over the course of the investigation, officers made more than twenty-six controlled purchases of narcotics from Beaner, Nelms, and their associates to establish the scope and breadth of the drug enterprise.

On August 28, 2019, investigators executed a warrant to search the Crescent Street residence and seized approximately 370 grams of methamphetamine, 103 grams of fentanyl, 8 grams of cocaine, 6 grams of heroin, 119 grams of a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl, and a firearm that were all hidden in various locations throughout the kitchen. From a related search warrant executed at another residence, investigators seized more than $35,000 in U.S. currency that had been used in connection with drug sales.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the City of Roanoke Police Department, the Roanoke HIDTA Program, and the Virginia State Police.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Miller and Kari Munro prosecuted the case for the United States.