Hickory, N.C. Man Charged With Methamphetamine Trafficking Near An Elementary School And Gun Related Offenses

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Hickory, N.C. man has been charged with methamphetamine trafficking near an elementary school and gun related offenses announced Anne M. Tompkins, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

U.S. Attorney Tompkins is joined in making today’s announcement by Brock D. Nicholson, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Georgia and the Carolinas; Greg McLeod, Director of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation; and Sheriff Coy Reid, of the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office.

A federal grand jury sitting in Charlotte returned a seven-count criminal indictment against Gary Carroll, 57, of Hickory, on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. According to allegations contained in the indictment, beginning in 2010 and through March 2013, Carroll did knowingly conspire to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to the indictment and filed court documents, Carroll was involved in a drug trafficking conspiracy that involved more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. According to a filed criminal complaint, upon execution of a search warrant at Carroll’s residence in January 2013, law enforcement recovered 67 grams of methamphetamine, other drug paraphernalia, cash, four firearms – including an assault rifle – and a large quantity of ammunition and ammunition magazines. The indictment, criminal complaint, and court proceedings allege that Carroll’s trafficking activities took place from, among other places, his home, which is within 1,000 feet of a public elementary school.

Carroll is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine, which carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison and a $10 million fine; one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine which carries a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine; one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a public elementary school which carries a maximum of 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine; one count of possession with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of methamphetamine which carries a minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine; one count of possession with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a public elementary school which carries a minimum of five years and a maximum of 80 years in prison and a $10 million fine; one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking which carries a minimum of five years and a maximum of 80 years in prison and a $10 million fine; and, possession of firearms after conviction for domestic violence offense which carries a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Carroll was arrested in February 2013 and has been released on bond. The charges contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The investigation was handled by ICE-HSI, SBI, and CCSO. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven R. Kaufman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.