Two sentenced in drug bust

HUNTINGTON -- A local businessman-turned-drug dealer was sentenced to prison Monday afternoon, along with an accomplice in a conspiracy to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana in Huntington.

Both men -- Eugene "Buzi" Robinson II and James Lamont Bonnett -- were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert C. Chambers.

Robinson, former owner of the Gourmet-To-Go, received three years and one month in federal prison. The punishment fell below the federal minimum because Robinson had no prior criminal history and did not possess firearms in furtherance of the drug conspiracy.

Bonnett, of Las Cruces, N.M., received five years and 10 months in federal prison. That punishment was 10 months above the required minimum.

Authorities arrested both men Jan. 5 at a local hotel along 16th Street Road. They had arrived with $255,000 to purchase 600 pounds of marijuana -- a bogus transaction set up by a federal agent. Authorities found multiple weapons inside of Robinson's house, including a military rifle. They also recovered $70,000 cash and marijuana packaged for resale.

Both men agreed to a stipulation of facts. It states Bonnett approached a confidential source in November 2008. He said Robinson, his cousin by marriage, needed the large shipment. Robinson flew to El Paso on Dec. 12. He visited Bonnett's residence and returned to El Paso a day later, when the duo met with an undercover agent and the confidential source. Details were finalized, Robinson returned to Huntington and the arrest occurred weeks later.

The court attributed 275 kilograms of marijuana to both men.

Both men threw themselves at the mercy of the court and apologized for their involvement.

Chambers described Robinson as an once-successful businessman who took a "long and tragic fall."

"It is a shame that you turned to this as a way to sustain yourself," he said.

A search warrant filed near the time of Robinson's arrest states he admitted to dealing marijuana "for years." He told agents he had "kept it cool," planned on dealing marijuana for another year to year and a half and had an "'exit strategy' to become 'legit.'"

Robinson told the judge he became naive and foolish, never believing he was in any real trouble. He was unaware of the severity of his punishment and did not consider his wrongdoings would cause him to abandon his family. He told the court the inability to provide for his family -- a wife and three children -- was his "worst fear realized."

Robinson's family and supporters filled two rows of the courtroom gallery. His wife, Christie, testified on his behalf. She refuted the prosecution's claim that her husband used firearms to further his drug conspiracy.

The couple both testified Robinson just started collecting firearms prior to his arrest. He routinely visited a local shooting range to relieve stress. Agents found a loaded .22-caliber rifle leaning against a wall, but the couple said the loaded firearm was positioned to help his wife shoot a pesky raccoon.

The prosecution suggested Robinson kept the guns to protect his money and marijuana, but Chambers did not believe government's argument met its burden of proof.

The judge said many people have many guns stored in their house, and the court could not assume Robinson's marijuana and firearms were related without tangible evidence. He cited multiple concerns:

Tom E. Bevins, a special agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration, testified authorities found ear protection typically used at a shooting range.

Robinson opted to travel across country, unarmed to negotiate and plan the drug shipment.

The highest-power, loaded weapon near the marijuana stash at Robinson's residence was a .22-caliber rifle.

Chambers said those concerns and others did more to substantiate Robinson's claim that his firearms were unrelated. That decision resulted in a two-prong reduction. It eliminated the prosecution's call for an enhanced sentence and qualified Robinson for a safety valve reduction, which allowed Chambers to order the less-than-minimum sentence.

Bonnett received the least amount of time allowed within his sentencing guidelines. His defense attorney said her client's life has transformed since being arrested. He has changed his attitude, fully cooperated and found a new hobby in reading every day. One book of particular interest is the Bible. He also started exercising and dropped 20 pounds since he was incarcerated, his attorney said.

The U.S. Attorney's Office agreed with Bonnett's level of cooperation.

Robinson had operated Gourmet-To-Go since Oct. 7, 2002, according to records at the West Virginia Secretary of State's Office. He terminated its original certificate of organization May 22, 2008, but immediately filed it under a similar name -- Gourmet-To-Go Cafe and Catering.

The investigation was spearheaded by the Huntington Police Department and the DEA, which worked the case in conjunction with DEA agents in Las Cruces, N.M. Other agencies providing assistance were the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team, Boone County Sheriff's Office and the Logan County Sheriff's Office.

The Herald-Dispatch