A Norfolk resident will spend the next 19 years in federal prison after being convicted of drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession.
Eric Joseph McGinnis, 44, was sentenced yesterday following an investigation that uncovered his role in distributing a range of dangerous substances and illegally stockpiling weapons.
Federal agents executed searches on July 28, 2023, at McGinnis’ home and his business, EJM Enterprise, both located in Norfolk. What they found was staggering: 17 firearms, including two that were homemade, and a wide array of drugs. The haul included 17 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1.2 kilograms of marijuana, 1.5 kilograms of psilocyn (a hallucinogen), 1.2 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride, and half a kilogram of fentanyl, some of which was mixed with the veterinary tranquilizer Xylazine—an increasingly dangerous combination seen in drug overdoses nationwide. Agents also seized hundreds of pills and capsules containing various controlled substances, including Oxycodone.
Court records show that McGinnis had been supplying drugs to a co-conspirator since at least November 2022. Despite being a convicted felon—making it illegal for him to own firearms—McGinnis had a small arsenal at his disposal.
After the searches, McGinnis tried to cover his tracks by instructing his girlfriend to destroy or hide evidence critical to the investigation.
This case highlights the serious consequences of drug trafficking and the growing risks posed by fentanyl and related substances. Norfolk has seen its share of struggles with opioid-related overdoses, and cases like this illustrate the ongoing battle law enforcement faces to curb the flow of dangerous drugs into communities.
For McGinnis, his role in this operation has now earned him nearly two decades behind bars.