Tim Heaphy sits down to talk with the media for an informal, getting-to-know-you session where he talks about his background and how he got here to be the new us prosecutor for western Virginia.
Heaphy says one of his goals is to communicate better with everyone from local media to state prosecutors. He says one of the biggest problems we have in southwest Virginia is prescription drug abuse.
"We need to build larger cases. The way you stop this by really going after the people who make money. They people that are bringing it in and manufacturing it, not just the person who is selling it on the street,” said Heaphy.
Heaphy says the other major problem he's going to target is gangs.
"There's no question that in small cities like Roanoke, or Danville, or Charlottesville, we have gang membership and gang recruitment,” said Heaphy.
While in DC, Heaphy was a gang prosecutor for a case that was known as the Murder Inc case,, where he put away dozens of gang members. He says the key is getting cooperation.
"My approach with gang members was very straight forward. This is the evidence we have against you. We think you have an opportunity to help yourself. if you choose not too, you'll be charged with the following and we think that the evidence is strong enough that you'll be convicted,” said Heaphy.
Heaphy also says he's going to be proactive against gangs by getting grant money for gang prevention programs and plans to work with local communities to stop other criminal activities.
Heaphy say he and his family will continue to live in Charlottesville and he will commute to Roanoke’s main US Attorney’s office several days a week. He says it won't affect his ability to do his job, but will be tough on his family.
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