A Norfolk man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for drug-trafficking and firearms offenses, following his arrest in October 2023. Lloyd Levi Hardy, also known as Blu or Trap Monster, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, psilocyn, and heroin; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
In September 2023, the Virginia Beach Police Department obtained state arrest warrants for Hardy after a shooting into an occupied apartment. The charges included brandishing a firearm, use of a firearm during commission of a felony, shooting into an occupied dwelling, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Hardy was located at a hotel in Virginia Beach on October 10, 2023, where he was arrested.
During the arrest, law enforcement searched Hardy’s vehicle and recovered approximately $1,600 in cash, over 13 grams of cocaine, more than 14 grams of heroin, nearly 12 grams of psilocyn (a hallucinogenic substance), and four firearms—one identified as stolen. Ballistics linked one firearm to the September shooting incident. A cellphone seized from Hardy contained messages dating back to December 2020 related to the sale of drugs.
Hardy had previous convictions for grand larceny, destruction of property, obstructing justice, unlawful delivery of controlled substances, unlawful possession of a firearm, eluding police with endangerment charges, and burglary. He committed the recent offenses while under conditions set for good behavior stemming from earlier convictions.
“Lloyd Hardy has earned a sentence as substantial as his criminal record,” said Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “As an armed drug dealer, with outstanding arrest warrants for violent crimes at the time of his arrest, Hardy is exactly the type of threat to our citizens that we work every day to identify and remove from our communities. In coordination with the FBI and our state and local partners, my office will continue to hold career offenders such as Lloyd Hardy responsible for their abhorrent actions.”
“This repeat offender’s criminal career ends here,” said Dominique Evans, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office. “Working with the Virginia Beach Police Department, we brought the full force of federal resources to bear—putting a dangerous individual behind bars and sending a clear message: if you peddle drugs and carry guns in our community, we will find you, and we will stop you.”
“The VBPD continues to aggressively focus on career offenders, and we are grateful for our federal partners assisting us in holding them accountable for the danger they present to our community,” said Paul Neudigate, Chief of Virginia Beach Police. “Every day our officers put their lives on the line to keep drugs off our streets and firearms out of the hands of those who cannot legally possess them or those who intend to inflict harm in our neighborhoods. Ensuring accountability for ongoing felony activity helps keep Virginia Beach safe.”
“Thanks to the tireless work of our local state and federal partners another dangerous criminal is off our streets,” said Jason S. Miyares Attorney General of Virginia. “This sentence makes it clear that repeat violent offenders and drug dealers will be held accountable in Virginia. My office will keep working with law enforcement across the Commonwealth to protect our communities and keep violent criminals behind bars.”
Hardy pled guilty on November 19th last year before Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr., who handed down today’s sentence.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan M. Montoya with assistance from former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyssa Miller.
The prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which brings together law enforcement agencies at all levels along with community organizations aiming to reduce gun violence through focused enforcement strategies.
Further information about this case can be found on both the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and PACER by searching Case No. 2:24-cr-45.
