HARRISONBURG, Va. – Police have reported that a Mount Jackson man, who was convicted following a three-day jury trial in January of 2022 of distributing methamphetamine and carrying a firearm while doing so, was sentenced today to 16 years in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.
According to a press release by the Virginia State Police, Merle Brook Stephens, 53, was found guilty in January of one count of knowingly or intentionally possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.
“According to evidence presented at trial, as part of a larger law enforcement sting operation, Stephens was arrested on December 7, 2018 as he left his hotel room in Mount Jackson, Virginia,” the Department of Justice said in a statement. “At the time of his arrest, Stephens was in possession of more than 323 grams of methamphetamine, a loaded .45 caliber semiautomatic handgun with five loaded magazines, $3,637 in cash, and a variety of drug paraphernalia items.”