A Gloucester man was sentenced last week to 22.5 years in prison following his conviction in federal court on charges of methamphetamine trafficking and related firearms charges.
Eric Lee Smith, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Raymond A. Jackson of Norfolk Federal District Court on what began as a Mathews criminal case. The Mathews County Sheriff’s Office announced Smith’s sentencing this week.
The sentencing came subsequent to his conviction last March by a federal jury on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, two counts of using and maintaining drug premises, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime, illegal possession of a machine gun, and possession of an unregistered firearm.
The case dates to Nov. 22, 2020, when Smith was arrested after an incident in which he shot a victim multiple times at a home in the 700 block ...