Commonwealth v. Adam Lee Cieniewicz; Intoxicated, High Driver Kills Two Passengers and Flees Scene; Judge Imposes 24-Year Sentence

Virginia Beach, Va. – Colin D. Stolle, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the city of Virginia Beach, announced that Adam Lee Cieniewicz, age 37, was sentenced on charges of Aggravated Involuntary Manslaughter (2 counts), Hit and Run – Personal Injury, Possession of Schedule I/II Drug, and DUI.  He was found guilty of these charges by Circuit Court Judge Westbrook Parker after a two-day bench trial on August 26, 2025.  Judge Parker sentenced Cieniewicz to 55 years and twelve (12) months in prison with 31 years and twelve (12) months suspended, leaving 24 years to serve.  This is almost twice the high-end of the Virginia State Sentencing Guidelines’ recommendation.

The Commonwealth’s evidence proved that on July 30, 2024, Adam Cieniewicz and two friends, Shawn Babonis and Francisco Bisono IV, went to Mermaids Club on Potters Road in Virginia Beach.  Cieniewicz drank alcoholic beverages there for several hours.  Cieniewicz drove himself and his two friends from Mermaids Club headed toward Clubhouse Bar shortly after midnight.  On the drive to Clubhouse Bar, Cieniewicz turned off London Bridge Road onto Shipps Corner Road and accelerated to a high speed.  He lost control of the vehicle and hit several trees.  The impact killed both of his passengers. Cieniewicz climbed out of the vehicle and fled the scene.  He walked barefoot to Clubhouse Bar and got into a car and was driven away.  He never called for rescue for his passengers, nor did he ask anyone else to.  

The person who drove Cieniewicz away from Clubhouse Bar returned to the crash scene and told the police it was Cieniewicz who was driving his truck that night.  Cieniewicz admitted to her that there was a crash and that he was high on cocaine at the time.  Responding officers located a bag of cocaine at the scene.  When Cieniewicz was arrested later that day, he tested positive for cocaine and marijuana at intake in the jail.  Cieniewicz’s DNA was found on a blood stain on the driver’s airbag.  Cieniewicz also left his keys in the ignition and his flip flops on the driver’s side floor.       

Cieniewicz has prior convictions for DUI, DUI – 2^nd Offense, Possession of Schedule I/II Drug, Resisting Arrest, Assault, and Reckless Driving by Speed. 

Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul J. Powers and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Molly E. Bricker prosecuted this case. Please contact Macie Allen if additional information is desired.