THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 19, 1995 TAG: 9509190090
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
Longtime Richmond City Council member Chuck Richardson resigned Monday after he was arrested on felony drug charges in neighboring Henrico County.
Henrico police arrested Richardson at 10:30 p.m. Sunday at a private home during an undercover operation.
He faces charges of possession of heroin, distribution of heroin and conspiracy to commit a felony, police said. A woman with Richardson, Tammie L. Taylor, 24, of Norfolk, was charged with the same three offenses.
Sources close to the investigation told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that a videotape shows Richardson taking $80 from an undercover informant for about a gram of heroin.
Richardson was arrested eight years ago on a cocaine charge in Richmond. He was acquitted.
Before entering an inpatient drug rehabilitation program in July 1994, he said he had battled heroin addiction for 20 years.
He was an 18-year council veteran.
Police said Richardson was the target of a months-long investigation by a task force of officers from Richmond, the state police and the counties of Henrico, Hanover and Chesterfield.
Possession of heroin with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin each carry maximum sentences of 40 years in prison. The conspiracy charge carries a maximum 10-year sentence.
Mayor Leonidas B. Young said City Council will have to appoint someone to complete Richardson's term. The next regular council election is in May, and Richardson's term runs through June.
KEYWORDS: DRUGS ILLEGAL RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL ARREST by CNB