CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Three men were convicted on Monday for roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy and an incident that led to two people's deaths in Chesapeake, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said.
According to the department, 35-year-old Corney Conley of Virginia Beach, also known as KO and Allen Conley, managed a large-scale interstate drug trafficking organization mostly based in Hampton Roads between January 2020 and November 2022.
The organization would often sell drugs at "popup shops" in new locations. The DOJ said 27-year-old Javaid Reed of Chesapeake and 29-year-old Kyron Speller of Norfolk provided security at the shops.
In 2021, Conley was robbed at gunpoint at a popup shop on Providence Road in Chesapeake. After that incident, Conley and his security were regularly armed.
On May 13, 2022, two armed people tried to rob their popup shop on Wintercress Way in Chesapeake. Conley and his worker opened fire. The two armed robbers were killed.
Another worker pistol-whipped one of the robbers during the gun battle as well.
Afterward, Conley and the two workers removed controlled substances, drug proceeds and firearms from the popup shop.
Conley was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, psilocybin, and psilocin, possession with intent to distribute marijuana; possession with intent to distribute psilocybin and psilocin, possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and continuing a criminal enterprise.
He faces a mandatory minimum of seven years and a maximum of life in prison when sentenced on November 15.
Reed was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, psilocybin, and psilocin; possession with intent to distribute marijuana; possession with intent to distribute psilocybin and psilocin; and possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
He faces a mandatory minimum of seven years and a maximum of life in prison when sentenced on November 15.
Speller was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, psilocybin, and psilocin; possession with intent to distribute marijuana; and possession with intent to distribute psilocybin and psilocin.
He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison when sentenced on October 25.
