Hampton Men Plead Guilty to Participating in Drug Conspiracy and Shootout in Hampton
| U.S. Attorney’s Office June 12, 2012 |
NEWPORT NEWS, VA—Randell Lamont Woods, 23, of Hampton, Virginia, pled guilty yesterday to his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and cocaine. His co-conspirator, David L. Andrews, 27, also from Hampton, Virginia, plead guilty on June 5, 2012 to participating in the drug conspiracy while in possession of a firearm.
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after Wood’s plea was accepted by United States District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.
Woods and Andrews were indicted on March 13, 2012 on drug and firearm charges. A third individual, Christopher Vinson, 29, also of Hampton, was charged in a separate but related indictment with being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on December 27, 2011, Woods accompanied Andrews to deliver a quantity of cocaine base to a drug deal at the Walmart parking lot in Hampton. Vinson also arrived in the parking lot. An argument ensued that led to an exchange of gunfire between Vinson, Andrews, and others also present in the parking lot. Approximately 25 shots from three different handguns were fired in the shoot out. Andrews and Woods fled the scene but were apprehended following a seven-hour standoff at a motel in Hampton.
Woods will be sentenced on September 27, 2012 and faces a mandatory minimum five year sentence. Andrews will be sentenced on September 24, 2012 and faces a mandatory minimum five year sentence on his drug conviction and a consecutive five year sentence on the firearm conviction. Vinson will be sentenced on August 13, 2012 and faces a maximum sentence of 10 years.
This case was investigated by FBI and the Hampton Police Department. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy R. Murphy is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at www.justice.gov/usao/vae.