Last of 8 admit roles in city marijuana ring

By Tasha Kates

Published: November 7, 2008

Two more people have admitted their roles in a marijuana conspiracy by accepting plea agreements in Charlottesville’s federal court. They are the last of eight to admit their involvement.

Penny Alisha Miles and Travis McKinsley Barnett pleaded guilty to separate charges Friday in connection with a drug ring led by Reynold George Samuels, the former owner of the downtown apparel store Sexshuns.

In court Friday, Barnett pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and possession of a firearm by a felon. The 28-year-old faces between five and 40 years and a $2 million fine on the drug conviction and up to 10 years and a $250,000 fine on the gun conviction.

Miles, 30, pleaded guilty Friday to a new charge of knowledge of the commission of a felony and concealment of that information by not reporting it to authorities. Steven Rosenfield, Miles’ attorney, said in court that she would be sentenced to time served and an undefined term of probation under the agreement.

Samuels had a network of couriers who would drive dozens of pounds of marijuana from New York to Charlottesville. Once the marijuana arrived, authorities said, it was doled out to sub-distributors who sold it in the community.

Barnett was one of the those sub-distributors, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald M. Huber. Barnett sold 75 grams of marijuana to undercover detectives with the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement task force in the span of two months in 2007.

Authorities have accused Miles of knowing about the operation but not reporting it to authorities.

“On Sept. 14, 2007, she drove Reynold Samuels and a person she had a romantic interest in to a confidential informant to deliver [the marijuana],” Huber said in court. “She had been present at several deliveries.”

Huber also said in court that Miles once reached into a package of marijuana and took some for herself.

As part of the plea agreement, the remaining indictment against Miles was dismissed. Four other drug charges against Barnett are also expected to be dropped.

On Monday, co-defendant Andre Alexander Williams will be sentenced in federal court. Travis Barnett’s brother Jvon Barnett, Joe Davis Williams III and Carl Anthony Samuels will be sentenced in December. The Williamses are not related.

Reynold Samuels, who is Carl Samuels’ brother, faces sentencing in January.

Miles and Barnett will be sentenced in January in federal court. Miles remains out on bond, while Barnett continues to be held in jail.