Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, August 20, 1993 TAG: 9308200217
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FLOYD LENGTH: Medium
After a preliminary hearing in Floyd County General District Court, Judge Ed Turner certified the charges against the men to the next grand jury to consider for indictment. The next grand jury meets Sept. 1.
The three men are Roosevelt Junior Chaney, 36, of Ferrum; Charlie O. Atkins Jr., 46, of Ferrum; and John David Fralin, 41, of Rocky Mount.
They were charged with manufacturing alcoholic beverages without a license after authorities raided an illegal distillery along the Blue Ridge Parkway near the town of Floyd.
Investigators found a dozen 800-gallon pots inside a barn-like building. The homemade distillery was capable of producing 200-240 gallons of whiskey. The raid was characterized as the largest in at least 10 years and perhaps in the county's history.
Chaney, who was previously convicted for manufacturing moonshine in 1981 and 1992, also was charged with conspiracy to manufacture alcoholic beverages without a license.
The raid was a cooperative effort between the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Department, the Floyd County Sheriff's Office and the Blue Ridge Park Service.
The April 30 raid followed a three-day investigation that started after a reliable source gave them information, authorities said.
No charges were placed against the owner of the property where the still was found.
Barry Weddle Sr., an ABC agent, testified Thursday that the property owner said he had a verbal agreement with Fralin and another man to rent them the property for $200 month. The owner said he was told the land would be used to house hogs.
Weddle testified he was familiar with the barn and his suspicions were raised because the barn had been altered, a new gravel road had been installed and there was no livestock on the property.
From a stake-out point, agents could see a plastic hose that was carrying mash flow from the barn, Weddle said.
Several hours before the raid, Weddle said, he saw Chaney leave the barn, go into the woods and later return with a sack of material. Fralin seemed to be trying to camouflage the hose, Weddle said.
Officers raided the barn at 8:50 a.m. Agents destroyed the distillery and seized a truck at the site.
by CNB