Leesburg Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Oxycodone Conspiracy That Led to Overdose Death
Defendant Sold Pills Primarily to High School Students and Recent Graduates

ALEXANDRIA, VA—George Washington Crane V, 48, of Leesburg, Virginia, was sentenced today to 12 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.

Dana J. Boente, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; and Michael L. Chapman, Loudoun County Sheriff, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Liam O’Grady.

“We have seen a disturbing increase in the use of opiates and heroin by young people across Eastern Virginia,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Boente. “Crane’s decision to target young people and traffic oxycodone, an extremely dangerous drug, warrants the 12-year sentence.”

“Drug suppliers like Crane ply their illegal trade in our neighborhoods and threaten the safety, health, and well-being of citizens,” said Assistant Director Parlave. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners are focused on stopping the movement and illegal sale of controlled prescription drugs and will continue to diligently investigate those who sell them to protect our citizens from the illegal use of these dangerously addictive painkillers.”

“It is gratifying to see Crane held accountable for both drug distribution and the tragic and senseless death of William Huff. I thank our partners at the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for working with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office to bring this case to a successful conclusion,” said Sheriff Mike Chapman.

Crane pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute oxycodone on September 11, 2013. According to court documents, between 2008 and 2011, Crane purchased oxycodone several times each week from sources on the street in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland. Crane then brought the oxycodone to Leesburg, Virginia, and distributed the pills primarily to high school students and recent graduates. Crane sold oxycodone to multiple customers daily from his residence and car.

According to the statement of facts filed at the time of Crane’s guilty plea, Crane distributed oxycodone on August 7, 2010, to a conspirator who later provided it to William Huff. Huff, who was 20 years old, died at his home in Leesburg on August 8, 2010, as a result of injecting the oxycodone that Crane distributed.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Adam B. Schwartz prosecuted 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 http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae.