A Âé¶¹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø woman charged with the death of her 2-month-old son is also facing a racketeering indictment that alleges widespread drug dealing and prostitution.

Burnette
Lindsey Renee Burnette was charged with two counts of racketeering by a Floyd County grand jury on Aug. 19, about two weeks before she was indicted in Âé¶¹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø on an unrelated felony-murder charge involving her son’s death in February.
Burnette, 37, is one of five people charged under the Virginia Racketeer Influenced and Criminal Organization Act, which carries stiff penalties for involvement in a coordinated criminal enterprise.
In a news release last month, Virginia State Police said the indictments allege drug dealing, prostitution and human trafficking across multiple jurisdictions from Floyd to Rockbridge County.
Floyd County Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric Branscom declined to elaborate.
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In Âé¶¹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø, Burnette was charged last week with felony-murder – an unintentional killing that happens in the commission of another felony – after police were called Feb. 14 for a report of an unconscious infant at her home on Hanover Avenue Northwest.
Burnette told officers that she and the baby were sleeping in the same bed, and that when she awoke, the boy was unconscious. Police say their investigation determined that she rolled onto the child while sleeping.
An autopsy determined the 2-month-old died of suffocation and acute methamphetamine toxicity. Burnette also faces charges of abuse or neglect of a child causing serious injury and child cruelty.
Police officers at the scene described Burnette as “clearly high,†according to a warrant alleging that she violated the conditions of her supervised release. The warrant was filed March 19 in Âé¶¹´«Ã½¹Ù꿉۪s federal court, where she was earlier convicted of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
“On a side table was a mirror with white residue consistent with cocaine, sitting next to a baby bottle that contained formula,†the report read. Other drugs and paraphernalia were also found in the home.
In 2022, Burnette was sentenced to three years in federal prison for tossing a gun out of the window of a car driven by her boyfriend as it was being pursued by police.
“Ms. Burnette has had a rough go of life,†her attorney wrote in court papers that outlined a lifetime of drug addiction that began when she was given marijuana as a 13-year-old. “Most recently, she was using methamphetamine, and she admits that it has ruined her life.â€
Burnette’s criminal history prevented her from gaining custody of the three children she had at the time, a 2022 sentencing memorandum stated.
“She hopes to ‘find herself’ while in prison and set herself up to stop interacting with the criminal justice system,†her public defender wrote. “She hopes this sentence of incarceration will be different and will allow her to turn her life around.â€
After completing her federal prison sentence and giving birth to her most recent child, Burnette was re-incarcerated for several months earlier this year for violating her probation. She was released in June.
Less than two months later, Burnette was back in jail facing her most recent charges in Âé¶¹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø and Floyd County.