Crime and Public Safety
James Ray Gregory
From Virginia State Police: James Ray Gregory is in custody after stealing a farm truck on Catawba Creek Road. With the heavy police presence in the area, units were able to locate the stolen vehicle and place spike strips to disable the vehicle’s tires and officers were able to take Gregory into custody without further incident. Gregory will be charged with the escape and for the stolen vehicle.
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LeMajor “Lee” Hill is announcing his candidacy for the Office of Sheriff in Roanoke City, calling himself, “a lifelong resident of Roanoke City and have served over 25 years at the Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office. Hill makes a formal announcement at “The Galleria,” 3625 Williamson Rd., at noon on Saturday. THe seat is open this Fall after the retirement of Tim Allen and his interim replacement choosing not to run.
(from website) I would like to welcome you to the official website for the Campaign to Elect LeMajor “Lee” Hill Sheriff of Roanoke City. Thank you for taking the time to visit my site and your desire to learn more about my candidacy for the Office of Sheriff. As the time nears for the next election, more and more potential candidates are preparing to make their stances on why they should be elected to serve their community known. I submit to you that my democratic candidacy for the Office of Sheriff comes at the right time and for the right reason.
By now, many of you know that Sheriff Tim Allen will not be seeking re-election. He has retired after an illustrious, successful, and effective career in public service. Sheriff Allen has been a strong leader in law enforcement who established high levels of trust and integrity within the Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office. His footprint on the Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office and the City as a whole will be everlasting.
Our citizens need an experienced Sheriff who has developed trust and integrity throughout our community and who has the leadership/ability to lead us into the future. It is vitally important to elect an individual with vision, a willingness to get involved, and who possess an understanding of the challenging needs of our community and department.
Photo: Roanoke PD
Roanoke Police are looking for a robbery suspect who held up a business this afternoon on 9th Street Southeast near Bullitt Avenue. Police do not name the business, but surveillance photos are consistent with the Carter Bank and Trust branch on that block. Officials say the suspect produced a note demanding money, then left on foot with the cash. There is no word on how much was taken.
NEWS RELEASE: On February 11, 2021 at approximately 1:50 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified of a robbery from a business in the 600 block of 9th Street SE. Responding officers did not locate a suspect on scene. Surveillance video shows the suspect enter the building then produce a note demanding money to the employee of the business. The suspect left the building with an undisclosed amount of currency, appearing to leave on foot. Anyone with information about this incident or individual is asked to call (540) 344-8500 and share what you know. You can also text us at 274637; please begin the text with “RoanokePD” to ensure it’s properly sent. Both calls and texts can remain anonymous.
MGN
The former owner of a Martinsville tortilla and meat market has been sentenced to eight years in prison for using her business to launder more than $4 million in Mexican drug cartel profits. Federal prosecutors say Ana Bella Sanchez-Rios used the business to wire the funds to one of the most dangerous international cartels in the world.
NEWS RELEASE: ROANOKE, Va.- Ana Bella Sanchez-Rios, the former owner and operator of a Martinsville business used to launder more than $4.3 million in profits for an international drug cartel, was sentenced last week in U.S. District Court to 96 months in federal prison. Sanchez-Rios laundered the funds for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a Mexican-based criminal organization considered by the Department of Justice to be one of the most dangerous transnational organizations in the world. Acting United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar, Special Agent in Charge Jarod A. Forgot of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division, and Raymond Villanueva, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C. Field Office announced the sentence.
“When individuals launder money for a drug cartel, they play critical role for the organization by concealing and transferring illegally-obtained funds, which perpetuates the cartel’s illegal activity and the scourge of the narcotics the cartel pedals,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bubar. “Money laundering investigations can be particularly difficult, and I’m proud of the hard work of our federal and state law enforcement partners in bringing Sanchez-Rios to justice.”
“Drug cartels like CJNG perpetrate unspeakable violence across the globe and drive the spread of deadly drugs like fentanyl and heroin,” said Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Washington Division. “We are committed to working with our partners to shut down these violent organizations in our area, often by tracking their illicit proceeds and disrupting these organizations at their bottom line. Today, these criminals’ addiction to money and greed has met its consequence.”
Sanchez-Rios, 48, was indicted in March 2019 along with 12 members of CJNG on a variety of federal drug trafficking and money laundering charges. In June 2020, Sanchez-Rios pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and operating a business that transmitted criminally derived funds.
Sanchez-Rios owned and operated Bella’s Tortilla & Meat Market, a business that contracted with Intermex Wire Transfer, LLC. Sanchez-Rios admitted that from 2016 through 2018, she used the business to launder the drug trafficking proceeds on behalf of CJNG. Sanchez-Rios’ role was to receive U.S. currency from multiple individuals working for the CJNG, which she knew were the drug trafficking proceeds and derived from a criminal offense. Sanchez-Rios then wired that money to individuals in Mexico. The defendant conducted wire transfers in small amounts and falsified and fabricated the names and addresses of the senders in order to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the funds.
In total, between May 10, 2016 and September 11, 2018, Sanchez-Rios transferred or caused to be transferred $4,394,959 in the proceeds of drug trafficking via Intermex from Bella’s Tortilla & Meat Market in Martinsville to individuals in Mexico.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, and the Virginia State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Sean Welsh is prosecuting the case for the United States.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found athttps://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
In preparation for the winter storm would could bring ice to the region Appalachian Power is bringing in nearly 200 workers to assist with expected service restoration. That includes 40 damage assessment workers from Ohio and 150 line workers from Ohio and Indiana. The workers will be in place by mid-day tomorrow, in areas where damage from downed power lines is expected. APCO says a half inch of ice or more is forecasted.
ROANOKE Co, Va. – (news release) Virginia State Police Senior Trooper R.K. Hawse is investigating a four-vehicle crash that resulted in a fatality. The crash occurred Sunday (Feb 7) at 3:24 p.m. at the northbound 138.9-mile marker of Interstate 81 in Roanoke County. A 2020 Peterbilt tractor-trailer, a 2013 Chevrolet Traverse and a Subaru Outback were stopped in traffic in the right lane on the northbound side of the Interstate 81, when a 2020 Freightliner tractor-trailer struck the Subaru in the rear, causing the Subaru and the Chevrolet to become crushed between the 2020 Freightliner and the 2020 Peterbilt.
The driver of the 2013 Chevrolet was identified as Kandy Bryant Poarch, 47, of Emporia, Va. Ms. Poarch was not wearing her seatbelt and died at the scene. A male subject was flown by helicopter to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for injuries received in the crash. Charges are pending.
MGN
(UPDATE 2-8) MARTINSVILLE, Va. – The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation has identified the two individuals that were killed in Fridays shooting at the El Norteno Restaurant. Keilo Anton Martin, 23, of Martinsville, Va. and Shavon Lamont Reid, 33, also of Martinsville, Va. were shot and killed inside the Restaurant bar area during the initial altercation on Friday evening before police arrived. The Virginia State Police and Martinsville Police Department have identified and charged two individuals that were involved in the shooting.
Jamal Emun Jenkins, 24, of Collinsville was charged with First Degree Murder, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony, Willful Discharge of a Firearm in a Public Place Resulting in a Death. Rosario Nasiar Eggleston, 20, of Martinsville, Va. has been charged with Aggravated Malicious Wounding, Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Malicious Wounding, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony and Willful Discharge of a Firearm in a Public Place Resulting in a Death. Two males remain hospitalized at Roanoke Memorial Hospital for gunshot wounds received the evening of the February 5.
(PREVIOUS NEWS RELEASE): MARTINSVILLE, Va. – At the request of City of Martinsville Police Chief Eddie Cassady, the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Salem Field Office is investigating a series of shootings that occurred at a restaurant in the 700 block of East Church Street in Martinsville.
At approximately 10:30 p.m. Friday (Feb. 5), an argument began in the bar area of the El Norteno Restaurant between several patrons. The argument developed quickly into an altercation and resulted in a 23-year-old male and a 33-year-old male, both of Martinsville, Va., being shot. The two men died at the scene.
A third man fled the restaurant on foot, but was pursued by two armed male subjects. When the three of them reached the parking lot outside the restaurant, the two male subjects began shooting at the man. The gunfire from this shooting was overheard by a Martinsville Police Officer on patrol nearby in his vehicle.
The Martinsville Police Officer immediately responded to the shooting and approached the men on foot as they were firing at the third male. The officer fired at the two armed men and struck one of them. The two shooters then retreated into the restaurant. The third male in the parking lot was not injured during either shooting.
Additional law enforcement personnel from Martinsville Police, Virginia State Police, Henry County Sheriff’s Office, immediately responded to the scene to make entry into and to secure the restaurant. Law enforcement did this as quickly and safely as possible in order to rescue approximately a dozen patrons and 20 restaurant employees trapped inside with the two shooters. No additional shots were fired inside the restaurant as police responded to the scene, made entry, and safely evacuated the remaining patrons and employees.
Inside the restaurant, law enforcement located the two deceased men from the initial shooting and one wounded male. An additional wounded male found nearby. Both wounded men were transported to the hospital and are being treated for life-threatening injuries.
The remains of the two deceased were transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Roanoke for examination and autopsy. Their identities are being withheld until all next of kin have been notified.
The shooting that occurred at nearby gas station shortly after the restaurant shooting is being investigated by the Martinsville Police Department.
No law enforcement officers were injured during the course of the incident.
The investigation into the shootings remain ongoing at this time. Charges are pending.
NEWS RELEASE UPDATE: Roanoke Police have arrested Stacy Clayborne, 30 of Roanoke, andcharged her with felony hit-and-run regarding the death of Donald Obenchain. Thanks to many anonymous tips that came in after we released photos of the
suspect, Fatality Investigators were able to identify, locate and charge Ms. Clayborne. Thank you to community members who called in with information. This case was presented to the February meeting of the Roanoke Grand Jury where the indictment for felony hit-and-run was issued. Ms. Clayborne was taken into custody in February 4, 2020 without incident. The investigation remains ongoing.
PREVIOUIS: The victim of this incident has been identified as Donald Obenchain, 62 of Roanoke. Fatality investigators have determined the suspect vehicle is a dark in color, four-door sedan with front-end damage. Anyone with information about this vehicle or incident is asked to call (540)344-8500 and share what you know. Callers can remain anonymous.
PREVIOUS: On November 3, 2020 at approximately 8:30pm, Roanoke Police were notified of a motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian in the 2400 block of Williamson Road NE. Responding officers located an adult male lying in the roadway in the immediate area. Roanoke Fire-EMS responded to the scene and pronounced the victim deceased. The victim’s identity will be released pending notification of next of kin. Preliminary investigation indicates the victim entered the roadway and was struck by a vehicle traveling South on Williamson Road NE. The driver of the vehicle did not remain on scene. This incident is being investigated as a fatal hit and run. The 2400 block of Williamson Road NE will be closed while fatality investigators gather evidence. No one has been charged regarding this incident. This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call (540)344-8500 and share what you know. You can also text us at 274637; please begin the text with “RoanokePD” to ensure it’s properly sent. Both calls and texts can remain anonymous.
MGN
NEWS RELEASE: On February 4, 2021, at 11:40 am, deputies from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office were at 58 Sanville School Rd., Bassett, VA, attempting to locate a wanted person. While at that residence, they observed the wanted subject, Jamie Lee Ore outside the home. When the deputy approached Ore, he fled into the house.
Deputies attempted to make contact with Ore, but he refused to exit the home. A search warrant was obtained to enter the residence where Ore was living. A tactical team and negotiators from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office assembled at the home. Negotiators were able to make contact with Ore. Ore communicated through an open window and agreed to come outside and surrender. At approximately 1:30 pm, Ore exited the home and was taken into custody by the Henry County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team without incident.
Jamie Lee Ore, 30, of 58 Sanville School Rd., Bassett, VA, was taken into custody on five outstanding charges.
- Manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute a controlled substance
4 counts (felony)
- Contempt of court (misdemeanor)
He is currently held in the Henry County Jail without bond.