PROCEEDS FROM MARIJUANA CASE TO HELP FIGHT DRUG WAR

BIG STONE GAP -- Part of the proceeds from a $1 million marijuana operation
was donated to Southwest Virginia law enforcement agencies Wednesday to help
the fight against drug crime.

Nothing upsets a drug dealer more than having his money spent by police
officers," said U.S. Attorney John Brownlee.

The federal prosecutor doled out almost $50,000 each to seven law
enforcement agencies during a gathering at the C. Bascom Slemp Federal
Building here.

The money is the cash proceeds seized from a marijuana manufacturing
operation in Scott County.

Claude Sloan, a Scott County man, pleaded guilty in March to manufacturing
marijuana and agreed to forfeit the money, Brownlee said.

The case was the result of a two-year investigation by the Southwest
Virginia Multi-Jurisdictional Narcotics Task Force, the Virginia State
Police, the Internal Revenue Service's criminal division, the federal Drug
Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshal's Service.

Sloan was ordered to serve a 30-year state prison sentence and a five-year
term in federal prison, Brownlee said.

"Mr. Sloan had it coming for a long time," he said.

Brownlee said police worked hard during the investigation and made the case
easier for attorneys to prosecute. Local and state police officers worked in
tandem with federal authorities in a textbook example of federal, state and
local cooperation, he said.

"This was good, joint police work," Brownlee said. "We were able to build a
case, and the IRS and Virginia State Police took the lead in the financial
investigation. Claude Sloan had assessed over $1 million in land and cash."

Eric Hurt, the assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted the case, said giving
the drug proceeds to law enforcement was the right thing to do.

"He took the money from the citizens of your county, and it's only right to
give it back to you," Hurt told local sheriff's and police chiefs.

The Big Stone Gap Police Department; the Norton Police Department; sheriff's
departments from Lee, Wise and Scott counties; the State Police and the
IRS's criminal division received the money.

Sam Mongle, Norton's police chief, said his department would use the money
to match funds for law enforcement grants, to update 911 equipment and to
purchase equipment to help officers enforce drug laws.

Wise County Sheriff Ronnie Oakes said the money would be used to equip and
train officers and to purchase drugs in undercover sting operations.