Greensboro, NC – Twenty-five people from the Davidson County area indicted in 2008 for their involvement in a conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine have pled guilty and have either been sentenced or await sentencing, announced Anna Mills Wagoner, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina.

“The sentences given in this case, ranging up to 360 months, reflect the serious harm that results from the production and distribution of methamphetamine,” said U.S. Attorney Wagoner. “The prosecution of these individuals wipes out an organization responsible for putting more than 500 grams of methamphetamine in the hands of drug users between early 2005 and January 8, 2008, to the great detriment of our community. We will continue to marshal law enforcement resources to disrupt and dismantle organizations like this.”

Information regarding the plea and sentencing of the defendants is as follows:

1. BENNY WAYNE FRANKLIN, age 31, of Denton, NC; plead guilty 5/19/08 to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, as well as possess pseudoephedrine (a common chemical used in the manufacture of methamphetamine); sentenced 12/8/08 by Judge William L. Osteen, Jr. to 360 months imprisonment, 10 years supervised release;
2. BILLY RAY FRANKLIN, age 33, of Denton, NC; plead guilty 5/19/08 to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, as well as possess pseudoephedrine; sentenced 11/24/08 by Judge William L. Osteen, Jr. to 188 months imprisonment, 8 years supervised release;
3. TIMOTHY SCOTT WAGNER, also known as “Coolie,” age 43, of Thomasville, NC; plead guilty 3/4/08 to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, as well as possess pseudoephedrine; sentenced 7/15/08 by Chief Judge James A. Beaty, Jr. to 151 months imprisonment, 10 years supervised release;
4. LAURA LYNN BLAIR, age 39, of Thomasville, NC; plead guilty 3/5/08 to conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine; sentenced 7/15/08 by Chief Judge James A. Beaty, Jr. to 57 months imprisonment, 3 years supervised release;
5. TRACY GLEN STRICKLAND, age 39, of Denton, NC; plead guilty 3/3/08 to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, as well as possess pseudoephedrine; sentenced 6/25/08 by Chief Judge James A. Beaty, Jr. to 36 months imprisonment, 5 years supervised release;
6. BENJAMIN RAY STEFFEY, age 27, of Asheville, NC; plead guilty 3/3/08 to conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine; sentenced 6/24/08 by Chief Judge James A. Beaty, Jr. to 28 months imprisonment, 3 years supervised release;
7. JAVETTA MORROW ROBINETTE, also known as “Susie,” age 43, of Thomasville, NC; plead guilty 3/3/08 to conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine; sentenced 6/24/08 by Chief Judge James A. Beaty, Jr. to 28 months imprisonment, 3 years supervised release;
8. ASHLEY NICHOLE MORROW, age 23, of Thomasville, NC; plead guilty 3/4/08 to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, as well as possess pseudoephedrine; sentenced 9/11/08 by Chief Judge James A. Beaty, Jr. to 66 months imprisonment, 4 years supervised release;
9. SCOTTY LYNN PULLUM, age 25, of Thomasville, NC; plead guilty 3/3/08 to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, as well as possess pseudoephedrine; sentenced 9/11/08 by Judge James A. Beaty, Jr. to 80 months imprisonment, 5 years supervised release;
10. TIMOTHY DANIEL STRICKLAND, age 31, of Denton, NC; plead guilty 3/3/08 to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, as well as possess pseudoephedrine; sentenced 6/24/08 by Judge James A. Beaty, Jr. to 28 months imprisonment, 3 years supervised release;
11. TAMARA HOBBS STRICKLAND, age 35, of Denton, NC; plead guilty 3/3/08 to conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine; sentenced 6/24/08 by Judge James A. Beaty, Jr. to 3 years probation;
12. CRAIG LEROY ROBBINS, age 50, of Trinity, NC; plead guilty 3/3/08 to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, as well as possess pseudoephedrine; sentenced 6/25/08 by Chief Judge James A. Beaty, Jr. to 46 months imprisonment, 3 years supervised release;
13. LARRY CRAIG STILLWELL, age 37, address; plead guilty 3/3/08 to conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine; sentenced 12/9/08 by Judge James A. Beaty, Jr. to 27 months imprisonment, 3 years supervised release;
14. CRYSTAL GAYLE HODGES, age 25, of Thomasville, NC; plead guilty 2/21/08 to conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine; sentenced 6/13/08 by Judge James A. Beaty, Jr. to 24 months imprisonment, 2 years supervised release;
15. TONY WAYNE HUGHES, age 24, of Lexington, NC; plead guilty 3/3/08 to conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine; sentenced 6/24/08 by Chief Judge James A. Beaty, Jr. to 38 months imprisonment, 3 years supervised release;
16. LISA TODD KINLEY, age 46, of Denton, NC; plead guilty 5/19/08 to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced 9/16/08 by Judge William L. Osteen, Jr. to 120 months imprisonment, 12 years supervised release;
17. CHRISTOPHER LEE WOODLIEF, age 23, of Denton, NC; plead guilty 3/3/08 to conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine; sentenced 6/24/08 by Judge James A. Beaty, Jr. to 42 months imprisonment, 3 years supervised release;
18. JUSTIN HALEY FREEMAN, age 27, of Trinity, NC; plead guilty 4/22/08 to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, as well as possess pseudoephedrine; sentencing is set for 2/24/09 before Judge William L. Osteen, Jr.;
19. RALPH DOYLE MOORE, age 54, of Lexington, NC; plead guilty 4/10/08 to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, as well as possess pseudoephedrine; sentencing is set for 2/26/09 before Judge William L. Osteen, Jr.;
20. BRIAN KEITH CHAMBERS, age 49, of Thomasville, NC; plead guilty 9/11/08 to conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine; sentencing is set for 6/16/09 before Judge Thomas D. Schroeder;
21. JULIE RENEE STEWART, age 28, of Thomasville, NC; plead guilty 9/11/08 to conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine; sentencing is set for 6/16/09 before Judge Thomas D. Schroeder;
22. STACEY MARIE VEST, age 32, of Lexington, NC; plead guilty 10/3/08 to conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine; sentencing is set for 6/17/09 before Judge Thomas D. Schroeder;
23. TIFFANY NOBLE KEY, age 24, of Kernersville, NC; plead guilty 9/11/08 to conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine; sentencing is set for 6/16/09 before Judge Thomas D. Schroeder;
24. STEPHEN WINDFIELD KANOY, age 37, of Thomasville, NC; plead guilty 9/3/08 to conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine; sentencing is set for 5/7/09 before Judge Thomas D. Schroeder;
25. ELIZABETH MOORE FRANKLIN, age 51, of Denton, NC: pleaded guilty 6/2/08 to conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine; sentenced 9/4/08 by Judge N. Carlton Tilley, Jr. to 46 months imprisonment, 3 years supervised release

The charges against these individuals resulted from a lengthy investigation involving the joint efforts of several law enforcement agencies, including Sheriff David S. Grice and the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the United States Marshal’s Service.

Sheriff Grice said, “The culmination of this investigation and the convictions of these individuals has significantly curtailed the manufacture, distribution and use of methamphetamine in Davidson County. The joint investigation with the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshal’s Service, and subsequent prosecution of these cases by the United States Attorney’s Office has greatly enhanced citizen confidence in the effectiveness of the criminal justice system at all levels.”

United States Attorney Wagoner also stated that the level of co-operation among federal, state and local law enforcement in these cases was outstanding and demonstrates what great things happen when we all work together to fight crime.

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