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Department of JusticeUnited States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy Western District of Virginia |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, October 19, 2009 |
CONTACT: Brian McGinn PHONE: 540-857-2974 FAX: 540-857-2179 EMAIL: Brian.McGinn@usdoj.gov www.usdoj.gov/usao/vaw |
NORTH CAROLINA MAN SENTENCED FOR ROLE
IN CRACK COCAINE CONSPIRACY
Charles Jermaine King Will Serve 15 Years
ABINGDON, VIRGINIA – A Burlington, N.C. man who was involved with the Kantstop Records Inc crack cocaine distribution organization, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 15 years of incarceration.
Charles Jermaine King, Jr., a/k/a “Zig-lah” a/k/a “Ziggy”, 32, was sentenced in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Abingdon to 15 years imprisonment for his role in a multi-state crack cocaine trafficking conspiracy associated with Kantstop Records. King was previously convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five grams or more of crack cocaine.
According to evidence presented at King’s trial and sentencing hearing by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Lee, King was a member of the drug trafficking organization headed by Derrick Lamont Evans, Oedipus Mumphrey, and Kerry Donnell Lee, all of Burlington, North Carolina. Evidence was presented that the main distributors of the conspiracy were individuals from Burlington, NC, many of whom were associated with Kantstop Records, Inc., a rap music production company of which Derrick Lamont Evans was the president and CEO, and King was an artist performing under the name “Zig-lah”. The evidence presented showed that the crack cocaine trafficking organization transported large quantities of powder cocaine and crack cocaine to Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee between January 2003 and April 30, 2008. The United States presented evidence that King had traveled to the area to sell cocaine and crack cocaine for the organization in 2005 along with the other members of Kantstop Records, Inc.
To date, forty-nine members of the drug trafficking organization have either been found guilty or pleaded guilty to charges associated with the distribution of crack cocaine. Forty-two members of the drug trafficking organization have been sentenced to a combined total of 5,077 months imprisonment. In addition, six members of the conspiracy have been sentenced to mandatory sentences of life imprisonment based upon their prior convictions for felony drug offenses. One member of the conspiracy still awaits sentencing.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Bristol, Tennessee Police Department, Bristol, Virginia Police Department, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, Abingdon Police Department, Washington County, Virginia Sheriff’s Department, Virginia State Police, Johnson City Police Department, and the 2nd Judicial District Drug Task Force. The investigation was assisted by the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office, Washington County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, City of Bristol Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee of the United States Attorney’s Office in Abingdon is prosecuting the case.