automotive repair shop owner sentenced to federal prison for part in illegal drug conspiracy
WILMINGTON - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court today Senior United States District Judge James C. Fox sentenced DAVID LEWIS, 58, of Lucama, North Carolina, to 327 months imprisonment.
A Federal Grand Jury returned a Superseding Criminal Indictment on October 5, 2011. On November 21, 2011, a jury found LEWIS guilty of conspiring to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846; possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(c)(1); and two counts of possessing equipment, chemicals, and other materials used to manufacture methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843(a)(6).
It was learned through the investigation that LEWIS along with co-defendants Barry Lee Miller, Stacy Farrell Mayo, Aaron Brent Simmons, Randy Moore, Heather Michelle “Missy” Webb, Kevin Halpin, William Patrick Jernigan, Valerie Amber Simmons, Amanda Spencer, and Stephanie Smith were involved in the manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine in Wilson, Johnston and Sampson Counties. LEWIS owned and operated an automotive repair business, called The Corvette Shop, in Lucama, North Carolina, which served as the meeting place for the defendants. The shop was also used to buy, sell and “cook” methamphetamine.
According to evidence presented at trial, on February 8, 2010, while attempting to locate a fugitive, United States Deputy Marshals visited The Corvette Shop. When they knocked on the door, two individuals ran into a rear room of the building. Believing that one of the individuals was the fugitive they were looking for, the deputies gave pursuit. In the room was an active methamphetamine laboratory in which the deputies found 1.7 grams of methamphetamine and 16.4 grams of pseudoephedrine.
The investigation also revealed that LEWIS had purchased 120.6 grams of pseudoephedrine from 2006 until 2011.
The other co-defendants have been sentenced, with the exception of Randy Moore, with terms of imprisonment that range from 36 months to 199 months. Moore is currently scheduled for sentencing on July 16, 2012.
This case is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation entitled Speedbump, which targeted the domestic production of methamphetamine in the Eastern District.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer E. Wells prosecuted the case.
