THE LEADER OF A WASHINGTON COUNTY VIRGINIA METHAMPHETAMINE RING HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO TIME BEHIND BARS IN U.S. DISTRICT IN ABINGDON. 57 YEAR OLD LONNIE EDWARD MALONE OF ABINGDON WAS SENTENCED TO 27 AND A HALF YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON AFTER HE PREVIOUSLY PLED GUILTY TO ONE COUNT OF POSSESSION OF A SAWED-OFF SHOTGUN IN THE FURTHERANCE OF A DRUG TRAFFICKING OFFENSE AND ONE COUNT OF CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE 50 GRAMS OR MORE OF MEHTAMPHETAMINE. A SEARCH OF MALONE’S RESIDENCE ON SPOON GAP ROAD IN WASHINGTON COUNTY YIELDED NUMEROUS LOADED FIREARMS, 37 GRAMS OF METHAMPHETAMINE, AND 53-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN CASH. MEANWHILE, MALONE’S CO-DEFENDANT, VALERIE RENEE CHAPMAN, HAS ALREADY BEEN SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS IN PRISON FOR HER PARTICIPATION IN THE CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUE METHAMPHETAMINE.