Petersburg Armed Drug Trafficker Convicted by Federal Jury

Petersburg Armed Drug Trafficker Convicted by Federal Jury

RICHMOND, Va. - A federal jury convicted a Petersburg man today of possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and cocaine hydrochloride, possession of firearms in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Melvin Leon Myrick, 24, crashed a Silver Nissan near Pine Forest Drive in Colonial Heights after fleeing an attempted traffic stop. When a Colonial Heights Police Department officer came upon the scene, Myrick exited the driver side door, went to the rear of the car, and then ran to the passenger door before fleeing into the woods.

An inventory search of the car resulted in the recovery of over 130 grams of methamphetamine and 45 grams of cocaine hydrochloride from passenger side floorboard, two loaded Glock, Model 22 semiautomatic pistols, an AK-style pistol, and digital scales. A search warrant obtained and executed on Myrick's cellular phone revealed ongoing drug trafficking and connection to the firearms recovered from the Silver Nissan.

Myrick faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison for the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and a maximum penalty of life in prison. For the conviction of possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, Myrick faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison and maximum of life in prison. For the possession of firearms by a convicted felon he faces a maximum of 10 years in prison. Myrick will be sentenced on July 28. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Mike Weddel, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the ATF's Washington Field Division; and William Anspach, Chief of Colonial Heights Police, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson accepted the verdict.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth R. Simon, Jr. and Peter S. Duffey are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-148.