Two local men are headed to federal prison following separate investigations into illegal narcotics and firearms possession in Lancaster County. The sentencings are the result of a collaborative effort between the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, and the ATF under the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative.
Joblicenarius W’Yarian McGriff, 28, received a 78-month sentence followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. The charges stem from a March 2024 traffic stop where deputies discovered a backpack belonging to McGriff. Inside the bag, officers recovered over 23 grams of fentanyl, more than five grams of methamphetamine, and a handgun. Investigators utilized hotel surveillance footage to confirm McGriff was in possession of the bag shortly before the vehicle was stopped.
In a separate case, 25-year-old La’Jameion Vartavious Hood was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison. During a June 2024 traffic stop, deputies located a loaded 9mm pistol beneath the seat where Hood was sitting. Due to prior convictions—including assault and battery and discharging a firearm into a dwelling—Hood is legally prohibited from possessing weapons or ammunition.
Both cases were prosecuted as part of a violent crime reduction strategy that prioritizes the removal of repeat offenders from the community. Because there is no parole in the federal system, both defendants must serve the entirety of their terms behind bars.
Authorities indicated that these cases serve as a primary example of how local and federal partnerships work to target the flow of illegal drugs and weapons into the region.
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