Rowan County Drug Dealer Sentenced To More Than 13 Years In Federal Prison

GREENSBORO, N.C. - A Salisbury resident was sentenced on May 9, 2019, in federal court in Greensboro, announced United States Attorney Matthew G.T. Martin of the Middle District of North Carolina.

The Honorable N. Carlton Tilley, Jr., sentenced Donald Tiberio ARMSTRONG, 38, of Salisbury, North Carolina, to a 120 month term of imprisonment on charges of felon in possession of a firearm. At the time of the offense, ARMSTRONG was on supervised release, and was found to be in violation of the release conditions. In addition to 120 months imprisonment on the firearm charge, ARMSTRONG was sentenced to 37 months imprisonment for the supervised release violation, to be served consecutively, and ordered to serve three years of supervised release after completing his sentence. ARMSTRONG pleaded guilty in March 2018.

On August 29, 2017, deputies with the Rowan County Sheriff’s department arranged for an undercover officer (“UC”) to purchase an ounce of methamphetamine from ARMSTRONG. During the course of the transaction, officers monitoring the audio of the deal heard ARMSTRONG tell the UC to “put your hands up.” ARMSTRONG had taken the UC’s 9mm handgun from the holster on his hip, and pointed it at the UC’s face. Suspecting that the UC was being robbed, the officers moved in to apprehend the suspects. As officers surrounded the vehicle ARMSTRONG dropped the 9mm handgun in the back seat area of the vehicle and the UC was able to regain possession of the firearm. A search of the vehicle and surrounding area led to recovery of all of the departmental funds utilized to make the purchase of methamphetamine.

Prior to this arrest, ARMSTRONG had been convicted of trafficking cocaine by possession. ARMSTRONG also has a federal conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

The case was investigated by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Department and the Lenoir Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Terry M. Meinecke.

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