Two Norfolk men will serve over 30 years in prison combined for their roles in drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession. Javou Jameil Smith, 43, and Brian Ricardo Hinton, 41, were sentenced this month after law enforcement connected them to significant quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and firearms.
According to court documents, in December 2023, a controlled drug purchase led to Smith selling 452 grams of methamphetamine at Hinton’s Norfolk residence. Smith was armed during the transaction, and Hinton was present.
Days later, Chesapeake Police executed a search warrant at Smith’s home, recovering a wide array of drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, alongside packaging materials, scales, and a loaded firearm. Smith, already wanted in Virginia Beach, tried to flee but was quickly captured.
Police also searched Hinton’s residence, uncovering a stash that included nearly 280 grams of methamphetamine, with additional amounts totaling over 500 grams. They also found meth-laced tablets, ammunition, digital scales, and a loaded firearm.
Smith pled guilty in June to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. He received a sentence of 17 years and six months.
Hinton also pled guilty in June to similar charges and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Both men’s arrests and convictions mark a significant win for local law enforcement in combating the spread of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the region.