U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber | U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber | U.S. Department of Justice
Two men from Norfolk have been sentenced for their involvement in drug trafficking and firearms offenses. Javou Jameil Smith, 43, and Brian Ricardo Hinton, 41, were implicated in a controlled drug purchase conducted by law enforcement in December 2023 at Hinton's residence.
Court documents reveal that during the operation, Smith sold 452 grams of methamphetamine while armed. Following this incident, on December 13, Chesapeake Police executed a search warrant at Smith's residence. Despite attempting to flee due to active arrest warrants in Virginia Beach, Smith was apprehended after a brief pursuit. The search uncovered 6.05 grams of meth and about one gram of fentanyl packaged for sale. Additional findings included 57 packets containing fentanyl; tablets with fentanyl and Xylazine; para-fluorofentanyl, cocaine, and fentanyl tablets; a loaded firearm; digital scales; and materials used for drug packaging and distribution.
A separate search warrant was executed at Hinton’s residence where investigators found a safe with a loaded firearm magazine, meth tablets totaling 118 multi-colored units, and another bag with 13.9 grams of meth. In the same room were 29 bags of methamphetamine—10 tested bags confirmed to contain 278 grams of meth while the untested portion amounted to an additional 533.34 grams—alongside another firearm, ammunition, packaging materials, and digital scales.
Smith pled guilty on June 14 to charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. He received a sentence of 17 years and six months on November 5.
Hinton entered his guilty plea on June 17 for similar charges and was sentenced to 15 years in prison on November 13.
The sentencing announcement was made by Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Ramin Fatehi from the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney office; Mark G. Solesky from Chesapeake Police; and Mark Talbot from Norfolk Police following sentencing by U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham M. Stolle prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities.
Further details are available on the websites of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia or through PACER using Case Nos. 2:24-cr-49 (Hinton) and 2:24-cr-51 (Smith).
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