South Tidewater News

A Pulaski County, Virginia man, who is prohibited from possessing firearms due to his previous felony convictions, will serve more than 11 years in federal prison for illegally possessing firearms and approximately 1,200 grams of methamphetamine.

Lardadian Javon Banian, 32, of Fairlawn, Virginia, was sentenced last week to 138 months in federal prison. He pled guilty in May 2024 to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possessing with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, on November 23, 2022, members of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the parking lot of a business in Fairlawn following a 911 call and report of a domestic dispute. Upon their arrival, deputies observed Banian standing near the driver’s side of a van. He matched the physical description provided by the caller. When deputies approached Banian, he fled on foot, ignoring commands to stop. Banian was eventually taken into custody.

A search of Banian’s person revealed $3,500 in cash and two baggies containing approximately 35 grams of methamphetamine. Deputies subsequently obtained a search warrant for Banian’s van.

Inside the van, deputies discovered a 7.62 caliber AK-47-style rifle with a loaded magazine, multiple bags of methamphetamine totaling 1,200 grams as well as digital scales and plastic baggies.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office; the Town of Pulaski Police Department; the Radford Police Department; and the Pulaski County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin B. Johnson prosecuted the case for the United States.