Plea deal: JADE snitch gets misdemeanor charge

A Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force confidential informant, who set up at least nine people on drug buys, had his own two felony drug charges reduced to one misdemeanor pot possession charge in Albemarle Circuit Court March 23. Taylor Magri, 23, was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of cocaine […]

Entrapment trial: Jury rejects task force’s $50 heroin sting

Ryan McLernan admits he’s an addict. But he’s adamant he never sold drugs until another addict—a confidential informant for the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force—asked McLernan if he could help him score. McLernan did, and, six months later, he was indicted for distribution of $50 worth of heroin. The 22-year-old Western Albemarle High graduate […]