JONESVILLE, Va. — A 21-year sentence in federal prison has been handed down to Teresa Annette "Big Momma" Ely, 39, of Pennington Gap.
U.S. Attorney John L. Brownlee said Ely was sentenced in federal court in Abingdon for being the leader of an OxyContin distribution ring which operated in Lee County, from approximately 1996 through 2005.
Ely previously pleaded guilty to the charge of leading a continuing criminal enterprise. In addition to the prison term, Ely also was sentenced to five years supervised release following her imprisonment and was ordered to forfeit $42,500.
Also sentenced were four of her co-defendants, each of whom had previously pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and distribution of oxycodone.
Beverly Jane Benfield, 41, was sentenced to five years in prison. Kimberly Roop Homan, 28, of Pennington Gap, was sentenced to serve 30 months. Leonard Brewer, 35, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment and Rebecca Wendling, 34, was sentenced to 30 months.
Stacy Renee Homan Bishop, 26, is scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 29, at the federal courthouse in Big Stone Gap. Jerri Michelle Deskins, 36, is scheduled to be sentenced in Abingdon on Sept. 17 and Jennifer Bryson, 35, will be sentenced on Oct. 19, in Big Stone Gap. Jerry Stapleton, 48, is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date.
The defendants were charged on Sept. 6, 2006 in a 27-count indictment, and in a superseding indictment, on Dec. 19, 2006. The indictment charged Ely with running a continuing criminal enterprise, an organization whose purpose was to distribute oxycodone. She also was charged with maintaining a residence for the purpose of distributing oxycodone and numerous counts of distribution of oxycodone resulting from controlled buys of oxycodone made at the Ely residence.
Ely began dealing in prescription painkillers as early as 1996, primarily trafficking in OxyContin beginning around 1997, shortly after the drug came on the market. Initially, Ely obtained pills and took them to others who would sell the pills for her from their own residence. In approximately 2000, Ely allowed a number of her co-defendants to move into her house. In exchange for a small quantity of OxyContin for their personal use, cigarettes, and room and board, they helped Ely obtain and sell the pills.
al use, cigarettes, and room and board, they helped Ely obtain and sell the pills.
Between 2000 and 2005, Benfield, Bishop, Bryson, Homan, Wendling, Brewer, and Deskins all resided at the Ely residence for some period of time and each distributed OxyContin from the residence. The group supplied a steady stream of customers, frequently selling 10 or more OxyContin tablets per day. The pills were obtained by Ely and the others from individuals in Ohio and from a number of local suppliers in Lee County and nearby committees in Tennessee.
Throughout the course of conspiracy, the group was responsible for putting thousands of OxyContin pills onto the streets of Lee County and neighboring areas.
The rise of Ely’s organization corresponded to a rise in local property crimes in Lee County. Along with the dramatic increase of oxycodone abuse following the release of OxyContin in 1996, the county suffered in increased in crimes such as shoplifting, breaking and entering and burglary offenses, and the passing of forged and stolen checks.
The charges were the result of a long-term investigation conducted by the Lee County Sheriff’s Department, the Southwest Regional Drug Task Force, and the Bristol Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Brockhorst prosecuted the case.
C.J. Harte is a correspondent for the Daily News. His e-mail address is charte@middlesborodailynews.com.
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