ROANOAKE, VA — United States Attorney John L. Brownlee announced today that eight more defendants have been sentenced this week in relation to a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy in Augusta and Rockingham Counties that involved the distribution of methamphetamine to high school students. A total of sixteen defendants have now been sentenced in this case.

Matthew A. Propst, age 26, of Elkton, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Propst pleaded guilty to participation in the methamphetamine conspiracy and admitted possessing a firearm on two different occasions in furtherance of that conspiracy.

Franklin Hollingsworth, age 40, of Staunton, was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months in prison. He pleaded guilty to participation in the methamphetamine conspiracy.

Steven Monger, age 26, of Elkton, Virginia, was sentenced to 10 years and 4 months in prison. He pleaded guilty to participation in the methamphetamine conspiracy and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of that conspiracy. Monger also forfeited approximately $57,000, representing the value of his residence from which he sold methamphetamine.

Charles Conley, age 40, of Elkton, Virginia, was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison. Conley pleaded guilty pursuant to a plea agreement to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Conley also forfeited $60,000, representing the net value of his home in Rockingham County, as a consequence of using the property to distribute methamphetamine.

William Meadows, age 26, of Shenandoah, was sentenced to five years and ten months in prison. Meadows pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine pursuant to a plea agreement.

Rodney Hensley, age 35, of Elkton, was sentenced to five years and ten months in prison. Meadows pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine pursuant to a plea agreement.

Ann M. Good, age 24, of Elkton, Virginia, was sentenced to 60 months in prison. Good pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of that conspiracy.

Eight others involved in the conspiracy were sentenced on January 11th and 12th. Their sentences are as follows:

  Maurilio Prieto-Rubi    16 years and 2 months
  David Rowe              8 years
  Greg Layman             7 years and 3 months    Forfeiture of his Farm
                                                  (approx. value $160,000)
  Mauricio Mendez-Soto    7 years and three months
  Robert Booth            7 years and three months
  Wendy Taylor            21 months in prison
  Justin Wood             15 years
  Mark Moore              7 years and 10 months

One defendant, Ismael Cervantes, remains a fugitive; three additional defendants are awaiting sentencing.

The investigation began when agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives responded to the scene of a car bombing on February 10, 2005 at the home of Gregory Layman on Indian Trail Road in Harrisonburg. Agents determined that Joseph Jenkins had planted a homemade bomb on the hood of Gregory Layman’s car. The bomb exploded and injured Layman and damaged his vehicle. Jenkins later said he was trying to harm a Mexican national known to Jenkins as “Mo.” “Mo” was Layman’s source for methamphetamine, and was the source of methamphetamine for other defendants involved in this conspiracy. “Mo” was later identified as Maurilio Prieto-Rubi. According to evidence introduced by the United States, Prieto-Rubi would sell methamphetamine to members of the conspiracy including Franklin Hollingsworth, Justin Wood, and Gregory Layman, who would in turn sell to others.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the RUSH Drug Task Force, the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office, the Waynesboro Police Department, and the Rockingham County Fire Marshal’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Rusty Fitzgerald is prosecuting the case.
  Contact:
  Heidi Coy, PIO
  Phone:  (540) 857-2974
  FAX:  (540) 857-2179

Source: U.S. Attorney