two defendants sentenced for drug/firearms charges
NEW BERN - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court yesterday a husband and wife were sentenced for an illegal drug distribution conspiracy and firearms charges. United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced MAURICE ROCHELLE LOTT, 35, to 97 months imprisonment and JESSICA SUE LOTT, 34, to 28 months imprisonment.
A Federal Grand Jury returned a Superseding Criminal Indictment on October 25, 2011. On January 13, 2012, each defendant pled guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of marijuana, a quantity of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, (MDMA), and a quantity of Oxycodone, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846. Additionally, MAURICE LOTT pled guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c).
According to the investigation, a suspicious package was mailed, via the United States Postal Service, from Washington state to JESSICA LOTT at her residence in Wilmington, North Carolina, which contained marijuana, Ecstasy, and Oxycodone. On March 29, 2011, both MAURICE LOTT and JESSICA LOTT went together to the Post Office to retrieve the package. A search warrant of the residence was obtained and executed. Law enforcement retrieved additional controlled substances, drug paraphernalia, and a 9mm Keltec handgun from the residence.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney S. Katherine Burnette is prosecuting the case.
