A Roanoke man has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for the robbery, shooting, and murder of his drug supplier. Joseph Richard Walker, 30, pled guilty in February to charges of Hobbs Act robbery and possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and a crime of violence.

A Roanoke man has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for the robbery, shooting, and murder of his drug supplier. Joseph Richard Walker, 30, pled guilty in February to charges of Hobbs Act robbery and possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and a crime of violence.

This operation was part of a multi-year investigation by the Star City Drug and Violent Crime Task Force into a large-scale drug trafficker in the area, officials said.

A 32-year-old man, and known gang member, was arrested by the Star City Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, along with members of the City of Roanoke Police Gang Interdiction Unit after an operation in Roanoke, according to VSP.

Two people were arrested following a drug bust in Roanoke Friday, according to Virginia State Police.

Two men were arrested after a pursuit led to the seizure of illegal drugs in Roanoke Thursday.

The Star City Drug and Violent Crime Task Force started about two years ago.

A Roanoke man was arrested Thursday afternoon in Roanoke after an ongoing criminal investigation by the Star City Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.

Thirty-three pounds of illegal marijuana was confiscated from a suitcase at the Roanoke Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport on Jan. 19, according to Virginia State Police.

Three people from Roanoke have been arrested after the Star City Drug and Violent Crime Task Force seized drugs, firearms, and cash as a result of a long-term, multi-county-wide investigation, according to Virginia State Police.