Seventeen people involved in a large-scale drug trafficking operation in the Hampton Roads area have pled guilty to conspiracy charges tied to distributing methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, and other dangerous substances. The group, led by Corey Wright, 47, of Chesapeake, and Malik Dillard, 48, of Virginia Beach, funneled drugs from out-of-state suppliers into Virginia for local distribution, according to federal court documents.
Wright and Dillard’s operation, which ran from February 2021 through October 2023, supplied several mid-level dealers throughout Chesapeake, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Portsmouth. They brought in large quantities of meth, cocaine, and fentanyl, often shipping the drugs disguised in everyday items like stuffed animals.
The investigation spanned over two years and involved extensive surveillance, wiretaps, and confidential informants. Agents and officers were able to trace the drugs back to Wright’s California suppliers, and the court has already handed down several sentences, with more to follow.
Wright, a repeat offender who previously served time for crack cocaine distribution, faces at least 10 years and potentially life in prison. Sentencing is set for November 1. Dillard, who worked alongside Wright and was sentenced to 30 years, also played a key role in the distribution chain, supplying various mid-level distributors.
Other significant figures include:
Akime Russell Porter, 41, of Norfolk – Scheduled for sentencing on January 17, 2025, faces 5 to 40 years for meth, cocaine, and fentanyl distribution.
Holly Elizabeth Triplett, 37, of Portsmouth – Faces 5 to 40 years, sentencing set for February 28, 2025.
Jared Wayne Haddock, 46, of Virginia Beach – Already sentenced to 15 years and six months.
Sebastien Balthazar, 25, of Haiti – Sentenced to three years in prison.
Wright, Dillard, and others in this network are part of an ongoing crackdown on large-scale drug operations in Virginia. The investigation revealed the far-reaching effects of this conspiracy, which helped fuel the opioid and methamphetamine crisis in the region.