ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 6, 1997 TAG: 9702060046
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON STAFF WRITER
Over a span of two weeks last year, members of the Stanley family of Rocky Mount were arrested three times in different counties, charged with hauling moonshine up the interstate.
Now the family has its first arrest of 1997.
William Gray "Dee" Stanley was stopped Tuesday night in Charlottesville by state Alcohol and Beverage Control agents and charged with transporting illegal liquor, said Jimmy Beheler, the agent who heads the moonshine task force in Franklin County.
ABC agents seized the van he was driving, which contained 643 gallons of illegal alcoholic beverages, according to a news release.
Authorities in Charlottesville were notified by Franklin County agents to stop Stanley. The van he was driving was pulled over on U.S. 29 about 10:30 p.m., Beheler said.
In February and March last year, members of the Stanley family - including Dee Stanley and two sons, Jason and Scott - were stopped and charged with transporting illegal alcoholic beverages in Frederick, Shenandoah and Albemarle counties.
Twice, anonymous tipsters - at least one of whom turned out to be Beheler - led to the arrests.
Jason and Scott Stanley were both convicted.
Dee Stanley, however, was acquitted in September in Albemarle County of the lone charge he faced.
The Stanleys' lawyer, Bill Davis of Rocky Mount, argued that Dee Stanley couldn't be guilty of transporting liquor because he was sitting in the passenger seat and not driving the vehicle carrying it.
Beheler said Dee Stanley was by himself Tuesday night.
Franklin County agents also raided a still inside the garage of a Snow Creek man Tuesday night. Kenneth Cobler, 56, was arrested and charged with manufacturing alcoholic beverages without a license. Agents found six 800-gallon blackpot stills, about 65 gallons of illegal whiskey, and other distilling equipment and supplies.
Beheler wouldn't confirm that the still bust was related to Stanley's arrest, only that the investigation continues.
The news release from the ABC's Richmond office makes the point that a search warrant was executed on Cobler after Stanley was stopped in Charlottesville.
LENGTH: Short : 50 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Dee Stanleyby CNB