A 38-year-old California man, Leonid Mordan, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in a massive marijuana distribution operation uncovered in Loudoun County. Judge James E. Plowman of the Loudoun County Circuit Court handed down the sentence with no time suspended, citing the sheer scale of the operation and its commercial-level implications.
The arrest came in December 2023, following an investigation by the Blue Ridge Narcotics and Gang Task Force and the Virginia State Police. The task force, which includes members from law enforcement agencies across several nearby counties, had been investigating drug trafficking in the region when they executed a search warrant at a Leesburg property. Officers observed Mordan loading a large box into a cargo van and stopped him shortly after he drove off the property.
Inside the van, investigators found over 1,500 pounds of marijuana packed into more than 30 large cardboard boxes, all vacuum-sealed for transport. The street value of the marijuana was estimated at over $4 million. Authorities also recovered $10,000 in cash.
During sentencing, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jordan Ferbrache emphasized the seriousness of Mordan’s role in the operation, arguing, “This is not an ordinary amount—it’s a commercial quantity meant to support a larger network.” A veteran narcotics agent testified that this was the largest amount of marijuana he had ever seen in a single case.
Judge Plowman echoed these concerns, noting that the weight and street value of the marijuana were clear indicators of Mordan’s involvement at a high level of the trafficking operation. “You are not an ordinary driver,” Plowman stated during sentencing. “An ordinary driver would not be trusted with $4 million worth of marijuana.”
Mordan’s defense team sought leniency, pointing to his immigration status and arguing that he will likely face deportation after serving his prison term. However, the judge upheld the stiff sentence, underlining the necessity of addressing large-scale drug trafficking in the region.
Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney Bob Anderson applauded the efforts of law enforcement in dismantling a key part of a regional drug network. “The trafficking of drugs, especially on this scale, will not be tolerated in Loudoun County,” Anderson said.
This case highlights the ongoing challenges Loudoun faces as it deals with the ripple effects of major drug operations crossing state lines. The bust also underscores the importance of interagency collaboration in combating the rise of large-scale drug trafficking in Northern Virginia.
