Methamphetamine Manufacturer to Serve 15 Years
Ervin Dwayne Ratliff, age 37, of Maxie, Virginia received 70 years in a Virginia Prison with 15 years of that sentence remaining an active sentence on the condition that Ratliff successfully complete 7 years of active supervised probation. Prior to sentencing, Ratliff previously plead guilty to charges of Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Conspiring to Manufacture Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance, Possession of a Firearm While in Possession of Controlled Substances, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of Precursors to Manufacture Methamphetamine, and Child Endangerment.
On January 7, 2015, officers with the 29th District Narcotics Task Force and Ratliff’s probation officer obtained the necessary probable cause for a search warrant on Ratliff’s residence. Working with the Buchanan County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, task force officers obtained a search warrant for Ratliff’s home.
During the search of Ratliff’s home, he and three others were found in the living room where a loaded gun laid on a table. In addition to the gun, officers seized 14 baggies of methamphetamine and discovered an active methamphetamine lab in an abandoned van located on the property, as well as evidence of other previous methamphetamine production. In addition, Ratliff’s two year old child resided in the home where the methamphetamine and firearm was located.
When asked for comment, Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerald Arrington stated, “Methamphetamine poses a significant threat to Buchanan County. Unfortunately, over the past 3 years, we have seen a steady increase in its production, most likely due to the unavailability of OxyContin. In this case, not only was Mr. Ratliff in the midst of producing a highly dangerous drug, he was doing so with his two month old daughter present. Mr. Ratliff’s actions were more than enough to deserve a 15 year sentence.”
