Shannon Lee Cooper of Alleghany County receives 50 year sentence on illegal drug charges

Shannon Lee Cooper, 50, of Alleghany County was sentenced in the Alleghany County Circuit Court to 50 years in prison with 30 years suspended for an active mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years to serve. Cooper pled guilty on November 4, 2024 to one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 200 grams of methamphetamine mixture. After his release from prison, Cooper will be on supervised probation for five years.

When law enforcement officers of the Virginia State Police, Alleghany Highlands Drug Task Force, and Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on Cooper’s residence, Cooper attempted to flee. Officers captured Cooper and recovered from his residence more than 320 grams of methamphetamine mixture, baggies, scales, firearms, cash, and other drugs (including heroin and fentanyl).

When officers confronted Cooper with narcotics, baggies, scales, firearms, and cash, Cooper admitted that the contraband belonged to him.