Three individuals from Virginia have received long prison sentences for their involvement in a large-scale fentanyl trafficking operation. This operation spanned from July 2023 to April 2024 and resulted in the distribution of tens of thousands of pills throughout the region. The investigation into their activities involved multiple law enforcement agencies and unveiled the full scope of their drug network.
Federal Investigation Uncovers Massive Drug Operation
This Article Includes
Xavier Elijah Coltrane, also known as X or Slime, 21, from Arlington, along with Vaughn Meachem, also known as Vaughn Lockhart, 34, from Alexandria, and Cameron Harris, 24, from Gainesville, collaborated in the distribution of significant quantities of fentanyl pills. As per court documents, the FBI conducted five controlled purchases, during which the trio sold around 65,000 fentanyl pills and one kilogram of cocaine.
Coltrane was the co-owner of Exquisite Luxury Transportation, which he used as a cover for his drug trafficking operations. He would set up drug deals by having buyers book rides with the company. Once the vehicles reached the designated location, the drugs would be delivered. Meachem was primarily in charge of distributing the fentanyl pills at these locations, while Harris would take over if Coltrane suspected that law enforcement was monitoring his transportation service. There was even an instance where Coltrane himself personally made the delivery.
Coltrane was found to have employed encrypted messaging apps like Instagram and Telegram to communicate with co-conspirators and buyers, in an effort to avoid detection by law enforcement.
Lengthy Prison Sentences for the Defendants
All three defendants admitted guilt in a conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and also for distributing 400 grams or more of fentanyl. The sentences they received demonstrate the gravity of their offenses.
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- On February 13, 2025, Coltrane received a 20-year prison sentence
- On December 18, 2024, Harris was sentenced to 13 years in prison
- On February 14, 2025, Meachem was sentenced to 10 years in prison
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Sean Ryan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, brought the case forward. The sentences were handed down by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr.
Collaborative Law Enforcement Effort
Multiple law enforcement agencies, such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, Virginia State Police, and the Prince William County Police Department, collaborated in the investigation. Their collective actions played a crucial role in dismantling the drug trafficking network.
This case is a part of the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking (HIDTA) Northern Virginia Gang Initiative. The initiative focuses on targeting drug trafficking and money laundering organizations in order to reduce drug-related crime and identify emerging drug trends before they become more widespread.
