VIRGINIA BRIEFING
VIRGINIA BRIEFING
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POLITICS
Attorney General's Ruling Backs Ballots From Overseas
Virginia Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell issued an opinion yesterday in the dispute over absentee ballots used by members of the armed forces, saying that they must be counted.
Last week, the Fairfax County registrar said about 100 of the federal ballots, which are used as backups to local absentee ballots by citizens abroad, did not comply with a state law that requires that they carry the signature and the address of a witness.
As a result, he said he could not count them.
McDonnell (R) said a federal law that governs overseas military voting took precedence.
The state election board is to consider the matter today. The county registrar said he was studying the opinion.
-- Christian Davenport
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY
County-FBI Investigation Targets Cocaine Network
An investigation into a drug-trafficking network that moved large amounts of cocaine from Chicago into Prince William County has led to 22 arrests, authorities said yesterday.
The FBI and Prince William police launched the inquiry in April 2007, authorities said. Investigators found that Demont Story, 35, of Woodbridge was coordinating drug shipments to Prince William, authorities said.
In June, Story pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Alexandria to conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of the conspiracy.
He was sentenced in September to 15 years in prison on the two counts.
Another Woodbridge man, Gary Lewis, 33, has been charged with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and marijuana, authorities said. Lewis remains at large, they said
-- Jonathan Mummolo
