Re: Heroin Ring Busted in Centreville
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Date: June 09, 2009 11:18AM
Richter: 60 Days for Heroin Distribution
By Bonnie Hobbs
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Facing a potential two-year stint in prison, Centreville’s Anna Richter instead received 60 days community confinement, with work release, so she may continue the progress she’s made to free herself of her heroin addiction.
In January, she pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. But in a court document filed last week, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Grooms, Lauren Wetzler and Erik Barnett wrote that Richter acknowledged actually distributing 400-700 grams, from approximately June 2007 through March 2008.
When Richter, 20, returned to U.S. District Court in Alexandria, last Friday, May 29, for sentencing, Wetzler requested she receive a 50-percent reduction of the 46-57-month federal-guideline sentence because of her cooperation with the authorities. She said Richter kept the Centreville heroin conspiracy "flourishing" by introducing the young dealers to a new heroin source when their local one dried up.
"She’s made laudable and impressive strides in addressing her addiction and reclaiming her life," said Wetzler. "But she caused tremendous damage to others and there still is a debt to be paid."
In their document, the prosecutors called Richter one of the earliest users and distributors of heroin among the Centreville co-conspirators. "After meeting a supply source through her then-boyfriend Kevin Zuiker, the defendant personally introduced Angela Aycock and others to heroin," they wrote. "While away at college, [Richter] developed a source for heroin in Baltimore. In fall 2007, she introduced David Schreider, J.R. Quick, Tayler Gibson and others to [that] source when Antonio Harper, the group’s Washington, D.C. source, stopped selling to them."
However, the attorneys also noted Richter’s "substantial assistance in the investigation and prosecution of other members of the ring. Richter provided critical information about the origins of the conspiracy in 2005 and 2006. Prior to [her] cooperation, the government had very little information about Zuiker, Aycock and Andrew Kacvinsky, and the role they played in the conspiracy prior to Schreider and Quick’s involvement."
In court Friday, defense attorney Jim Clark’s voice broke as he said, "This is a difficult case. Anyone listening can’t help but say, ‘This could be my kid.’"
But he didn’t have to proceed further because Judge Leonie Brinkema stepped in and finished things, saying Richter, "more than any other defendant I’ve seen so far, has made extraordinary strides in kicking her addiction. She’s been working full-time for six months, and her supervisor wrote a glowing letter about her. So what is the point of yanking her out when she’s made such strides and is in a successful treatment program?"
Brinkema said Richter had no tragic events in her past, nor any mental-health issues, and came from a strong family. Sometimes, said the judge, "Teens get involved in [the wrong] group. It doesn’t excuse it, though. The most important issue is to make sure they don’t get involved in drugs again."
Clark said Richter’s been in rehabilitation in a place in Florida where there’s a "tremendous support system" for former drug users. Then Richter addressed the court.
"My heart goes out to the Lannes family, and [I’m grateful] for the gift of sobriety and recovery that’s been given to me," she said. "I try to help other women in the program; I make amends through what I do in my daily life. I know what it’s like to be on the dark side and I never want to go back there again."
Brinkema then sentenced her to 60 days community confinement with work release, plus five years supervised release, participation in drug-treatment tests and programs, and full-time employment or education. Richter must also perform 200 hours of community service, warning young people of the dangers of drugs. She must also have no contact with the co-defendants.
Afterward, Richter’s father said the family was "too emotional to comment" on the outcome, but their relief was obvious, as he and his wife and daughter stood outside the courtroom together in a long and tearful group hug.
Heroin victim Alicia Lannes’s father, Greg Lannes, speaking on behalf of him and his wife Donna, said they’re proud Tayler Gibson and Richter can make new beginnings and have so far been successful in changing their lives.
"All the individuals in this Centreville drug ring have had their lives saved, not to mention [those who’ve] been spared by breaking up this ring," he said. "Let's hope the seeds this ring has planted in our community do not take root [from those] still on heroin who may turn to distribution to feed their addictions. Donna and I want to continue to bring drug awareness in our community to help prevent this from happening. Our dream is that Alicia's tragedy will, in the end, be a positive impact to our community."