Attorney General Miyares announced today that Randall Scott Hileman, a man from Wise County, Virginia, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine and illegally possessing firearms. Hileman pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including conspiring to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, as well as possession of firearms by a convicted felon.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney M. Suzanne Kerney-Quillen from the Virginia Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section. According to court documents, Hileman's conviction is the result of five undercover drug transactions that took place in 2021 and 2022, where he sold methamphetamine to informants.
During Hileman's arrest in September 2022, a standoff occurred with law enforcement in Wise County. It was during this time that Hileman was found to be in possession of four firearms and assorted ammunition. As a convicted felon with multiple drug convictions, Hileman was prohibited from possessing any firearms.
Hileman admitted to his connection with co-defendant Justin Elliott, who was previously identified as a methamphetamine trafficker following his arrest in August 2021. The arrest of Elliott led to the seizure of a large quantity of methamphetamine and additional firearms. Both Hileman and Elliott admitted their involvement in the distribution of methamphetamine throughout Southwest Virginia, as well as trafficking a significant quantity of crystal ice methamphetamine into the area over a two-year period. This included over 30 kilograms of methamphetamine, some of which was 100% pure.
In May 2023, Justin Elliott was sentenced to serve 188 months in federal prison. United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, and Special Agent in Charge Craig B. Kailimai of the Washington Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement regarding Hileman's sentencing.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Coeburn Police Department, the Norton Police Department, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, and the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force.
This case serves as a reminder of the commitment of law enforcement agencies to combat the illegal drug trade and protect communities from the harms associated with it. The sentencing of Randall Scott Hileman sends a strong message that those who engage in drug trafficking and possess firearms unlawfully will face significant consequences.
To learn more, click on this link: https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/2649-november-30-2023-attorney-general-miyares-announces-wise-county-man-who-trafficked-methamphetamine-possessed-firearms-sentenced-to-10-years-in-prison