
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, May 22, 1993                   TAG: 9305220065
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Douglas Pardue
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

MOONSHINE SUSPECT CHARGED WITH RUNNING MARIJUANA RING

The Pittsylvania County man whom police had charged earlier this year with helping operate the largest moonshine still ever found in Virginia has been indicted on charges of running a marijuana distribution ring.

Paul Andrew Henson, 29, was charged Friday by a federal grand jury in Roanoke with conspiring to smuggle marijuana from Texas to Virginia.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Mott said authorities believe Henson and a co-conspirator, identified as Luther R. Sigmon, brought in about 1,200 pounds of marijuana over the past year. The marijuana was sold for about $1,000 a pound, authorities said.

Mott said Henson is alleged to be the financier and Sigmon the courier.

The two were arrested earlier this week, authorities said, after investigators set up a reverse buy in which they offered to sell 22 pounds of marijuana at $1,200 a pound to Henson. Henson and Sigmon were arrested after Sigmon picked up the marijuana in a pickup truck, authorities said.

In February, Henson was charged with aiding and abetting the operation of an illegal still that was discovered Jan. 6 in a raid on a Pittsylvania County farm where Henson lived. The still, with 36 800-gallon pots, was the largest ever found in Virginia, state alcohol beverage control officers said.

The moonshine charge against Henson was thrown out in April after a grand jury refused to indict him. His attorney, Glenn Berger, said the evidence against Henson was weak. All police could show, he said, was that Henson had lived in a house several hundred yards from the still.

by CNB