Couple Sentenced to Nearly 20 Years in Prison for Distributing Crack
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News couple has been sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison for their respective roles in manufacturing and trafficking narcotics in Hampton Roads.
According to court documents, Dynetta R. Littlejohn, 30, pleaded guilty earlier this year to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and was sentenced today to five years in prison.
Littlejohn’s codefendant, Robert James Walker, 37, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and was sentenced on October 23 to nearly 15 years in prison.
Littlejohn, was at home in August 2018, when law enforcement lawfully searched her residence and seized several narcotics to include MDMA, promethazine, marijuana, heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base. Police also seized two digital scales, $1,225 in cash, glassine bags and other drug packaging material, narcotics cutting agents, and other tools of the drug trafficking trade. Law enforcement also seized a loaded Ruger P90 .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun and additional ammunition. Littlejohn told officers that the items seized belonged to her. The search of the residence sprung from Littlejohn’s cohabitant, Walker, making an illegal U-turn mere hours earlier in a vehicle also filled with drugs, $3,091 in cash, and a loaded Glock GMBH 22, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division; Jesse R. Fong, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division; and Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter G. Osyf prosecuted 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. 4:19-cr-53.
