Former Virginia Beach Probation Officer and Husband Sentenced in Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

NORFOLK, VA—Katherine M. Kephart, 31, of Norfolk, Virginia, was sentenced today to 78 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine, commonly known as “ice.” Kephart’s husband, Charles M. Kephart, 43, of Norfolk, Virginia, was sentenced on January 23, 2014, to 78 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine.

Dana J. Boente, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Royce E. Curtin, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation-Norfolk Office, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen.

Katherine Kepart previously waived indictment and pled guilty on August 13, 2013. According to court documents, in November 2012, a cooperating source informed the FBI that Katherine Kephart and her husband were involved in methamphetamine trafficking. The Kepharts were alleged to be obtaining quantities of methamphetamine from sources in the Ashville, North Carolina area and distributing in Virginia. They regularly used methamphetamine and associated with known methamphetamine traffickers. Katherine Kephart, who was a Virginia state probation and parole officer employed by the Virginia Beach Probation Office during this time, utilized her office facilities to further her husband’s drug trafficking activities. She also traveled with her husband to North Carolina to procure methamphetamine and distributed methamphetamine on multiple occasions. On February 28, 2013, Charles Kephart was arrested after he purchased 14 grams of methamphetamine during a controlled sale with the undercover officer. The FBI then executed a federal search warrant on the Kepharts’ residence in Norfolk. The search yielded drug paraphernalia, including at least seven small plastic bags, or baggies; a piece of aluminum foil; four glass pipes; a spoon; two straws; a razor blade; and an electronic scale. Many of these items later tested positive for methamphetamine residue.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell 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 http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae.