Fairfax mayor arrested for distributing meth in exchange for sex

Silverthorne

City of Fairfax Mayor Richard “Scott” Silverthorne,
50,  was arrested Aug. 4 for allegedly attempting to distribute
methamphetamine through a website used to arrange casual sexual
encounters between men. Silverthorne is also employed as a substitute
teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools.

Capt. Jack Hardin,
commander of the Fairfax County Police Department’s Organized Crime and Narcotics division (OCN), and Ed O’Carroll, director of the FCPD’s
Public Affairs Bureau described the sting operation at a media briefing
Aug. 5.

OCN began an investigation during the week of July 18
after learning from a citizen that Silverthorne might be involved in
distributing  methamphetamine, which is listed as a Schedule II
controlled substance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration,
through a website used to arrange casual sexual encounters. An
undercover detective created a profile on the website and within two
days, the suspect made contact through the site.

Fernandez

After the
initial exchange, the suspect sent a text message to the undercover
detective saying he could provide meth in exchange for a group sexual
encounter and agreed to bring along other men. They arranged to meet at
the Crowne Plaza Hotel at 1960 Chain Bridge Road in Tysons Corner at
about 7 p.m. on Aug. 4.

At the meeting Silverthorne
provided meth to the undercover detectives and was subsequently arrested
and charged with felony distribution of methamphetamine and misdemeanor
possession of drug paraphernalia.

Detectives also arrested
Silverthorne’s alleged suppliers, Juan Jose Fernandez, 34, and Caustin
Lee McLaughlin, 21, both of Maryland. Fernandez was charged with of
felony distribution of methamphetamine, felony possession with the
intent to distribute methamphetamine, and misdemeanor possession of drug
paraphernalia.

McLaughlin

McLaughlin was charged with felony distribution
of methamphetamine, felony obstruction of justice, and misdemeanor
possession of drug paraphernalia. McLaughlin resisted arrest, and
an officer deployed an “electronic control weapon,” commonly known as a
taser. There were no injuries. All three were transported to the Fairfax
County Adult Detention Center for processing.

FCPD officials
don’t know how long the mayor had been involved with these activities,
but he had at least one other relationship on the website beside the one
with the undercover detective. FCPD declined to identify the website,
but Hardin said it’s like a dating website where the culture is about
exchanging drugs for sex, although that isn’t explicitly stated.

The
undercover detective knew what the mayor was looking for and created a
profile on the site that addressed those needs, Hardin said. The mayor
then initiated contact and arranged a meeting. 

At the meeting,
the mayor was supposed to bring two grams of meth, and the detective was
supposed to provide a hotel room. Both parties were expected to bring
additional people. When Silverthorne’s suppliers showed up in the
parking lot, 20 minutes late, FCPD detectives observed the meeting, then
arrested the suspects. One other person brought by the supplier was not
arrested and was released.

The FCPD do not believe Silverthorne
kept large quantities of meth in his house; he would meet with his
supplier before each meeting, Hardin said.

Silverthorne was re-elected for a
third term in May after suffering a series of personal setbacks, the
Washington Post reported. He lost job with the National Association of
Manufacturers, filed for federal bankruptcy protection, lost his home to
foreclosure and was treated for cancer following the discovery of a
squamous cell carcinoma on his neck.