A 37-year-old James City County man has pleaded guilty to a meth-related felony charge in connection with a Tri Rivers Drug Task Force investigation last year.
Sean Copley pleaded guilty to “manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute methamphetamine” Monday in the Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court.
According to Virginia Code, those charged with the offense possess, manufacture, sell, give or distribute between 28 and 226 grams of methamphetamine.
Sean Copley faces up to 40 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. He is scheduled for sentencing July 25 at 9 a.m.
Sean Copley pleaded guilty one day after his brother, Robert Copley Jr., was sentenced to 30 years in prison with all but 4 years suspended in connection with the same drug task force investigation.
On Aug. 9, 2017, Tri Rivers Drug Task Force agents were conducting surveillance at a residence located at 120 Tanbark Lane in an ongoing investigation into the “manufacturing of methamphetamine in the greater Hampton Roads area.”
Agents watched Sean Copley for about an hour and a half, observing him cook the meth in a shed behind the residence, documents state.
While police watched Sean Copley, a third man arrested in the incident, Byron Davis, arrived and stood in the doorway of the shed, talking to him, documents state.
Around 7:10 p.m., police said Robert Copley pulled up in a gray Volvo station wagon, went inside, then left several minutes later.
After Robert Copley left, police detained Sean Copley and Davis and conducted a search of the shed, finding multiple glass jars, camping fuel, salt, cut lithium batteries, and other materials “consistent with the methamphetamine manufacturing process,” according to documents.
Later, police found the Volvo driven by Robert Copley in the parking lot of Farm Fresh, located at 115 Norge Lane.
After a K9 alerted police to the possible presence of drugs, police searched the vehicle, finding materials to make meth in a black duffel bag such as lithium batteries, ammonium nitrate, pseudoephedrine and drain cleaner, according to documents.
Police also found a powdery white substance they identified as methamphetamine.
Sean Copley said he has about five people that purchase Sudafed for him with the excuse “that he broke his nose and needs more each month than he is allowed to purchase.”
After his arrest, Sean Copley told police he didn’t have a “ring” of people getting high off the methamphetamine he cooks, documents state.
WYDaily archives were used in this story.
