Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 15, 1993 TAG: 9309150071
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-12 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FLOYD LENGTH: Medium
Roosevelt Junior Chaney, 36, of Ferrum; Charlie O. Atkins Jr., 46, of Ferrum; and John David Fralin, 41, of Rocky Mount each were sentenced by Circuit Judge Duane Mink to serve one year in prison. The charge carries a maximum sentence of three years.
They were charged in April with manufacturing alcoholic beverages without a license after authorities raided a distillery along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Floyd.
Investigators found a dozen 800-gallon pots inside a barnlike building. The homemade distillery was capable of producing 200-240 gallons of whiskey. The raid was characterized as the largest in at least 10 years and perhaps in the county's history.
The raid was a cooperative effort among the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Department, the Floyd County Sheriff's Office and the Blue Ridge Parkway rangers.
The April 30 raid followed a three-day investigation that started after a reliable source gave them information, authorities said.
No charges were placed against the owner of the property where the still was found.
Barry Weddle Sr., an ABC agent, testified at a preliminary hearing last month that the property owner said he had a verbal agreement with Fralin and another man to rent them the property for $200 per month. The owner said he was told the land would be used to house hogs.
Weddle testified he was familiar with the barn and his suspicions were raised because the barn had been altered, a new gravel road had been installed and there was no livestock on the property.
From a stakeout point, agents could see a plastic hose that was carrying mash-flow from the barn, Weddle said.
Several hours before the raid, Weddle said, he saw Chaney leave the barn, go into the woods and later return with a sack of material. Fralin seemed to be trying to camouflage the hose, Weddle said.
Officers raided the barn, destroyed the distillery and seized a truck.
The men will begin serving their sentences next Tuesday, Commonwealth's Attorney Gino Williams said.
by CNB