DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

ACTING UNITED STATES ATTORNEY EDWARD R. RYAN
WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, MAY 11, 2009

CONTACT: SUELLEN PIERCE
704.338.3120
FAX 704.227.0264

IREDELL COUNTY MAN CONVICTED BY FEDERAL JURY Jury Finds Defendant Guilty on Drug and Federal Firearms Counts STATESVILLE, NC - A federal jury in the Western District of North Carolina, Statesville Division, convicted Ricky Jerome Lewis, 31, of Troutman, NC, following a two-day trial which ended on Thursday, May 7, 2009 with a guilty verdict. The return of the guilty verdict concluded an investigation of drug trafficking by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office which led to the indictment of Lewis on federal drug and firearms violations in December 2008. The federal indictment included charges of possession with intent to distribute “crack” cocaine, along with two separate federal firearms violations charges.

Today’s announcement of the guilty verdict is made by Acting U.S. Attorney Edward R. Ryan. Joining Ryan in making today’s announcement is Sheriff Phillip H. Redmond of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.

A federal indictment charging Ricky Jerome Lewis was initially filed in 2008 in U.S. District Court. The charges represent the results of a local investigation. In addition to the drug possession/distribution count, the indictment also charged two individual counts alleging 1) possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and 2) possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to the evidence presented at the trial of Defendant Ricky Jerome Lewis, on October 24, 2008, detectives from the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (SERT), executed a search warrant at 1351 Shinnville Road. Upon entering the residence, the deputies found Mr. Lewis in the master bedroom he shared with his girlfriend. During a search of that bedroom and the residence, detectives located, among other things, cocaine base, known as “crack” cocaine, drug paraphernalia, a large amount of U.S. currency, three firearms: an Iver Johnson .22, a Ruger .45, and a Cobra .380, along with a large amount of assorted ammunition.

Following Thursday’s conviction, U.S. District Judge Richard Voorhees announced that sentencing of Ricky Jerome Lewis would take place on a later date. Because Defendant Lewis has a prior felony drug conviction, he currently faces a sentence of ten years’ up to life imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute count. The conviction on the possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory consecutive term of five years’ imprisonment, and the conviction on being a felon in possession of a firearm carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment.

The prosecution was handled for the government by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas T. Cullen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. The U.S. currency was forfeited to state of North Carolina revenue authorities and the firearms were seized and are currently being held pending final forfeiture to the U.S. government.

Ricky Jerome Lewis
Age: 31
Last known residence: Troutman, NC
In Federal Custody awaiting sentencing