The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, December 16, 1995            TAG: 9512160327
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL BRIEFS 
DATELINE: NORFOLK                            LENGTH: Short :   29 lines

NINE INDICTED ON DRUG CHARGES

A federal grand jury indicted nine local residents Friday for allegedly conspiring to sell 220 pounds of marijuana over a two-year period.

The conspiracy, which allegedly occurred from June 1993 to November 1995, realized profits of about $5 million, the indictment said. The conspirators used their homes and unidentified area businesses for the sales, court records charged.

Federal authorities seized seven residences, vehicles, jewelry, electronic equipment, cash totaling more than $5 million and 55 ``various and assorted weapons,'' including at least four guns, the indictment said.

The nine people charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana were: Lewis T. Bateman, Kimberly Marie Evans, Leslie F. Evans III, Kenneth M. Green, Janis S. Hammond, Vincent H. Kent, Peggy Ann Singleton, Kenneth Ray Thorne Jr. and Calvin R. Vannostrand.

The people charged lived in Virginia Beach and Norfolk, court records indicate.

KEYWORDS: ARREST DRUGS ILLEGAL by CNB