The recently confirmed Western District of Virginia U.S. Attorney plans to focus on prescription drug and gang crimes at the Roanoke, Va.-based office, the local NBC affiliate reported today.
Timothy Heaphy (McGuire Woods)
Timothy Heaphy, who was sworn in earlier this month, told WSLS that prescription drug abuse is a major problem in Western Virginia.
“We need to build larger cases,” Heaphy told the television station. “The way you stop this is by really going after the people who make money.”
The U.S. Attorney also told WSLS that he will address gang crime in the Western District. Heaphy said he will work to secure grant money to fight gang crime.
“There’s no question that in small cities like Roanoke, or Danville, or Charlottesville, we have gang membership and gang recruitment,” he told the television station.
Heaphy previously served as the office’s anti-gang coordinator in the Charlottesville branch from May 2003 to December 2005. He told WSLS that he plans to commute from his home in Charlottesville to Roanoke several days a week, though it will be tough on his family.
