ABINGDON, Va. — Seven Lee County, Va., residents pleaded guilty Tuesday to selling more than $2.5 million worth of OxyContin pills over three years, officials said.

        The seven were arrested following a yearlong, multiagency investigation in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee.

        Jerry Wayne Robinson, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Abingdon to managing a continuing criminal enterprise, U.S. Attorney John L. Brownlee said in a news release.

        Mr. Robinson admitted in court that his organization was responsible for distributing at least 66,000 pills between 1998 and January 2001.

        He also pleaded guilty to using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. The charge resulted from Mr. Robinson's trading of firearms for OxyContin pills last July.

        He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and a $2.5 million fine.

        James Dierth, Janet Hess, Crystal Alsup and Tammy Gibson each also pleaded guilty to distributing up to thousands of pills. Ms. Hess pleaded guilty to distributing oxycodone, the active ingredient in OxyContin and several other painkillers.

        Each faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing is set for Dec. 10.

        The investigation was conducted by a joint task force comprised of agents from the Lee County Sheriff's Office; the Virginia State Police; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

        OxyContin, the nation's top-selling narcotic painkiller, has been blamed for more than 100 deaths nationwide since it hit the market in 1996.

        The 12-hour pills are meant for severe and chronic pain, but abusers have learned to crush them and snort or inject the powder for a heroin-like rush.

        Its manufacturer, Purdue Pharma LP of Stamford, Conn., is facing at least 14 lawsuits from people who say they've become addicted to the drug or who want to make the company responsible for OxyContin-related crimes.

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