Roanoke County, Virginia – A Roanoke County man has been sentenced to nearly 14 years in federal prison for his role in a violent drug-related robbery and a fatal shooting that occurred in separate incidents tied to an ongoing marijuana distribution operation. The sentence brings an end to a multi-year federal case stemming from crimes committed in 2018 and 2019.
Incident Overview
Damon Tyler Mills, 29, was sentenced to 165 months in federal prison on January 12 for his involvement in a drug robbery and a deadly shooting. Mills previously pleaded guilty in April 2025 to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Federal prosecutors said the crimes were connected to Mills’ activities as a marijuana dealer operating in the Roanoke area over several years.
Timeline of Events
Authorities say Mills was involved in marijuana distribution from at least 2016 through 2019, operating out of multiple locations in and around Roanoke County. The criminal case focuses on two key incidents: a violent robbery in November 2018 and a fatal shooting on February 24, 2019.
While the shooting ultimately resulted in federal charges, investigators determined the events were part of a broader pattern of drug-related violence.
Details From Federal Prosecutors
According to information released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia, Mills lived with another man in 2018 who helped him distribute marijuana. After the two had a falling out, the former roommate moved into his father’s home…