(Danville) — A former restaurateur who was dealing drugs at his Danville business could get up to life in prison.
40-year old Joseph Womack was convicted on two counts Tuesday in Danville Circuit Court. He owned and operated the former Drop Boxx Southern Grille on Memorial Drive.
Danville Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Newman says city and state police and the ATF got a tip that Womack was selling drugs. They served a search warrant in March. Officers pulled Womack over as he was leaving the restaurant.
Agents say he was carrying a black key. Turned out the key operated paper towel dispensers in the restaurant. Inside the dispensers, agents say they found 65 grams of cocaine. They also found a large bag containing about one-and-a-half kilos of marijuana.
Newman says video surveillance from the restaurant’s security cameras implicated Womack.
Womack was found guilty of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute—second offense, and possession of more than an ounce but less than five pounds of marijuana. Womack will be sentenced in January. He could get up to life in prison.