Prince George man sentenced to over 5 years for meth distribution, gun possession as felon
VENN
PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A Prince George County convicted felon was sentenced to nearly six years in prison after authorities recovered over 28 grams of methamphetamine, a handgun and more in his possession more than two years ago.
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), 34-year-old Earnest Thomas was sentenced to five years and 11 months in prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
On March 15, 2024, officers with the Colonial Heights Police Department responded to a report of a man looking into vehicles with a flashlight. Officials later found and spoke with Thomas, per court documents.
Officers attempted to gather Thomas' identifying information, but he ran away on foot.
After a brief pursuit, police apprehended Thomas, confirmed his identity and determined that he had outstanding arrest warrants from Chesterfield County and the cities of Petersburg and Hopewell.
Investigators recovered 28.62 grams of 93.7% pure methamphetamine, two digital scales, two ski masks, a handgun, a folded $5 bill containing 1.0685 grams of fentanyl and a vial containing an additional 0.3957 grams of methamphetamine following a search of Thomas' vehicle, per the DOJ.
Thomas previously was convicted of possession of a controlled substance, possession of a concealed weapon and domestic assault and battery, among other crimes.
As a previously convicted felon, Thomas cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
The DOJ said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division investigated the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Gilliland prosecuted the case.
"This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime," the DOJ wrote in the press release.
