Obscured License Plate Leads To Multiple Drugs Charges In Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — A couple riding a motorcycle with an obscured license plate in Fredericksburg on Tuesday ended up in police custody facing drug-related charges, according to the Fredericksburg Police Department.

An FPD officer on patrol conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Hillcrest Drive and Lafayette Boulevard, after noticing that the license plate on a motorcycle was obstructed. Approaching the motorcycle, the officer confirmed that Louis Buttice III was the driver and Amber Sullivan was the passenger, according to police.

When Buttice dismounted from the Harley, the officer noticed a bulge on his left hip and asked if Buttice was carrying a firearm, according to police. Buttice admitted that he did, later confirming that he did not have a concealed carry permit.

The officer also confirmed that the license plate on the Harley was out of date and that it had no active registration, according to the police. The officer’s partner, K9 Raider, alerted to the odor of suspected narcotics, leading to a search.

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The officer found two plastic zip-lock bags containing about 15 grams of methamphetamine, a small zip-lock bag with more than 30 individual “dime” bags, and a black digital scale, according to the report.

Buttice III was arrested and charged with a concealed carry violation, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm while in possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, according to FPD. Buttice was then held on a $10,000 secured bond.

Sullivan was also arrested. She was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and held on a $5,000 secured bond, according to police.

Buttice is scheduled to be arraigned in Fredericksburg General District Court at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, according to court records.

If convicted on the possession of a firearm with intent to sell Schedule 1/11 drugs and the possession charges, which are felonies, Buttice faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years for each charge, according to the code of Virginia. In addition, he could be fined up to $1 million on each charge.

The concealed carry violation is a Class 1 felony, which is punishable by up to 12 months in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,000, according to Virginia law.

Sullivan is scheduled to be arraigned at 8:30 a.m., on Tuesday in Fredericksburg General District Court on the conspiracy to distribute charge, which is a felony, according to court records. She faces a possible fine of up to $1 million and a mandatory sentence of up to five years in prison.