NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Following a guilty plea in October, a man was sentenced on Tuesday for federal drug and weapon offenses, the Office of Commonwealth's Attorney said on Wednesday.
Ladrale Antonio Putney, 44, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
On February 8, 2021, Newport News Police Department (NNPD) performed a traffic stop on Putney for driving the wrong way down a one-way without any headlight or tail lights, prosecutors said.
Putney provided an invalid license during the traffic stop. Due to the smell of marijuana and loose marijuana leaf particles visibly scattered around the car, police detained Putney. NNPD found about 30 grams of cocaine, three digital scales, and narcotics packaging material in his car.
He was also in possession of a stolen, loaded handgun, 18 grams of heroin, about 10 grams of cocaine base, over two grams of powder cocaine, two small bags of marijuana, and approximately $4,308.
Forensic laboratory analysis confirmed the controlled substances and detected the presence of fentanyl mixed into the heroin.
As a previously convicted felon, Putney was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
He pleaded guilty on October 13, 2023, to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
