Fairfax Police Beat / Fairfax City Mayor Scott Silverthorne One of Three Arrested for Distribution of Meth in Sex Ring

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  • Undercover detectives agreed to meet the Silverthorne for a group sexual encounter in exchange for methamphetamine. Police say that he arranged to bring methamphetamine along with other men to the engagement.

Northern Virginia Police Beat

Fairfax Police Beat / Fairfax City Mayor Scott Silverthorne One of Three Arrested for Distribution of Meth in Sex Ring

City of Fairfax Mayor Scott Silverthorne charged with distribution of meth to men in exchange of sex. Fairfax County Police
City of Fairfax Mayor Scott Silverthorne charged with distribution of meth to men in exchange of sex. Fairfax County Police

FAIRFAX CITY, VA.  The Mayor of Fairfax City, Va., was one of three men arrested in a meth-sex ring, reports Fairfax County Police.  Mayor Scott Silverthorne was charged by police with the distribution of meth to a group of men in return for sex. Ironically, if convicted, his chances of having sex with groups of men will increase dramatically. Silverthorne is also a public school teacher.

Police report that in late July, the Organized Crime and Narcotics (OCN) Division received information about a possible distributor of methamphetamine and immediately began an investigative inquiry. Methamphetamine is listed as a Schedule II controlled substance by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.  Based on information obtained during the investigation, a suspect was identified who was allegedly distributing methamphetamine through a website used to arrange for casual sexual encounters between men.

Undercover detectives agreed to meet the suspect for a group sexual encounter in exchange for methamphetamine. The suspect arranged to bring methamphetamine along with other men to the engagement.

Austin Lee McLaughlin charged with distribution of meth.
Caustin Lee McLaughlin charged with distribution of meth.

Fairfax Police reports that an undercover detective created a profile on this website and within a few days, the suspect made contact through the website. After the initial exchange, the suspect communicated via text messaging. During the course of communication, the suspect advised that he could provide methamphetamine for sexual encounters. Undercover detectives agreed to meet the suspect for a group sexual encounter in exchange for methamphetamine. The suspect arranged to bring methamphetamine along with other men to the engagement.

On Thursday, August 4, the Street Crimes Unit (part of the Organized Crime and Narcotics Division) met the suspect at the Crowne Plaza Hotel located at 1960 Chain Bridge Road in Tysons Corner. The initial suspect was identified as Richard “Scott” Silverthorne, 50, of Fairfax. Silverthorne provided methamphetamine to the undercover detectives and was subsequently arrested and charged with felony distribution of methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Silverthorne holds the office of Mayor of the City of Fairfax, Virginia, and is also employed as a substitute teacher for the Fairfax County Public Schools.

Juan Jose Fernandez charged with felony drug distribution in Fairfax County Va. Aug. 5, 2016.
Juan Jose Fernandez charged with felony drug distribution in Fairfax County Va. Aug. 5, 2016.

After the arrest of Silverthorne, detectives located his alleged suppliers and arrested Juan Jose Fernandez, 34, and Caustin Lee McLaughlin, 21, both of Maryland. Fernandez was charged with felony distribution of methamphetamine, felony possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. McLaughlin was charged with felony distribution of methamphetamine, felony obstruction of justice, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. During McLaughlin’s arrest, he physically resisted which resulted in a detective deploying his Electronic Control Weapon (ECW). There were no injuries. All arrestees were transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center for processing.

Silverthorne served several terms as a Council Member in Fairfax City and was elected to a third term as Mayor this year. He was laid off by the National Association of Manufacturers last year and went through financial difficulties as a result.

Silverthorne served several terms as a Council Member in Fairfax City and was elected to a third term as Mayor this year.

As Mayor of Fairfax City, Silverthorne was criticized for selling a large parcel of land owned by the city and located in Fairfax County to the county water authority without any bidding process and for selling the land below its assessed value, a clear indication of corruption which became a campaign issue.

Comments on the arrest in an article published by the Washington Post decried the newspaper failing to identify the political party of Silverthorne, a Democrat, pointing out that had he been a Republican, his affiliation would have been in the headline.  A post on Facebook of the local Democratic Committee features a video in which Silverthorne explains the historic connection between his father, who was also a Mayor and his family reaching back for decades.

From the Facebook page of the City of Fairfax Democratic Committee: “Kathy Hackshaw, Chair of the City of Fairfax Democratic Committee, introduces Mayor Scott Silverthorne, who speaks to the long relationship between the Silverthorne’s and Petersen’s here in the City. Mary Petersen, a longtime Democrat, civic leader, and advocate received the Frederick W. Silverthorne Award for her many years of leadership and contributions to the Democratic Party.” Democratic Virginia State Senator Chap Petersen accepted the award for his mother.

Maryland court records for the Prince Georges County Circuit Court show that McLaughlin filed for and was granted a divorce from Fernandez

Maryland court records for the Prince Georges County Circuit Court show that McLaughlin filed for and was granted a divorce from Fernandez by Judge Cathy Serrette on Jan. 12, 2015. This arrest shows that the two men may have reconciled.


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