New River Valley Drug Dealer Sentenced to More than 11 Years in Prison

ROANOKE, Va. – A Dublin man who engaged in drug dealing in Roanoke while armed with a weapon was sentenced this week to 11 and a half years in federal prison.

Nicholaus Francois Wines, 39, pleaded guilty in August 2023 to possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and to unlawfully possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of a felony offense.

According to court documents, on November 19, 2021, Wines was a fugitive who had warrants for his arrest out of Roanoke County and Pulaski County. On that date, law enforcement utilized a source to order a quantity of methamphetamine from Wines, and when Wines arrived in Roanoke to make the delivery, he was arrested on his outstanding charges. Incident to his arrest, law enforcement discovered that not only did Wines have a semi-automatic pistol tucked into his pants, he also was in possession of 503 grams of methamphetamine as well as approximately $9,500 in U.S. Currency.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division Stanley M. Meador, and Superintendent Gary T. Settle of the Virginia State Police announced the sentence today.

The Virginia State Police, Roanoke City and County Police Departments, Salem City Police Department, the Botetourt-Rockbridge Drug Task Force, which consists of Botetourt County Sheriff's Office, Rockbridge County Sheriff's Office and Buena Vista Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation participated in the investigation of the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Coleman Adams prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.