Press Release

Joint Law Enforcement Investigation Leads To The Indictment Of 25 Defendants On Federal Drug And Gun Charges

Monday, August 16, 2021

For Immediate Release

U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of North Carolina

The Multi-Agency Operation Targeted Drug Trafficking and Illegal Firearms in Buncombe, Jackson, and Haywood Counties

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Acting U.S. Attorney William T. Stetzer announced today that a multi-agency investigation into methamphetamine trafficking and illegal firearm possession in Western North Carolina has led to federal drug and gun charges filed against 25 individuals.

On Sunday, August 15, 2021, teams of federal, state and local law enforcement arrested 19 of those charged. Two additional defendants currently in state custody will be transferred to federal custody to face their charges. Four defendants have not been arrested yet.

In making today’s announcement, Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer commended the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Asheville, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, the Swain County Sheriff’s Office, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, the Waynesville Police Department, the Maggie Valley Police Department, and the Canton Police Department for their investigative efforts which led to the federal charges and arrests. Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer also thanked the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety Division of Community Corrections, the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, and the Asheville Police Department for their invaluable assistance in effectuating the arrests.

The criminal indictments, which were returned by a grand jury on August 3, 2021, and were unsealed today in federal court, are the result of a coordinated yearlong joint law enforcement investigation into drug trafficking activity and illegal firearm possession in and around Buncombe, Jackson, and Haywood Counties. Over the course of the investigation, which began in April 2020 and wrapped up in May 2021, law enforcement seized methamphetamine, more than a dozen illegally possessed firearms, various types of ammunition, and more than $12,000 in drug proceeds.

The first criminal indictment charges 23 defendants with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Of those charged, some face additional drug and/or firearms offenses (see chart below for list of federal charges for each defendant and maximum statutory penalties). The 23 individuals named in the indictment are:

Rebecca Lynn Barker, 49, of Clyde, N.C. (arrested)
Robert Allan Burnette, 59, of Canton, N.C. (arrested)
Angela Vance Carver, 47, of Canton, N.C. (arrested)
Derek Michael Cluff, 23, of Waynesville, N.C. (arrested)
Marcus Brandon Cobaugh, 29, of Canton, N.C. (arrested)
Lindsay Nicole Cobb, 27, of Burke County, N.C. (not arrested yet)
David Hunter Creson, 26, of Waynesville, N.C. (arrested)
William Joseph Craig, 43, of Candler, N.C. (arrested)
Arthur Shane Douville, 31, of Waynesville, N.C. (arrested)
Jaime Gamez, 38, of Canton, N.C. (arrested)
Justin Caroll Gibson, 28, of McDowell County, N.C. (arrested)
Jane Ivison Gill, 43, of Blythewood, S.C. (arrested)
Sarah Jane Gill, 22, of Blythewood, S.C. (arrested)
Roberto Illerma Ibarra, 39, of Norcross, Georgia (not arrested yet)
Elizabeth Gabrielle Mann, 28, of Canton, N.C. (arrested)
Jose Andres Martinez, 25, of Waynesville, N.C. (in state custody)
Keith Allen McMahan, 37, of Waynesville, N.C. (not arrested yet)
Nicholas Ray Miller, 33, of Canton, N.C. (arrested)
Ryan Warren Muster, 27, of Sylva, N.C. (in state custody)
Kelly Woodrow Ross, 60, of Waynesville, N.C. (arrested)
Richard Anthony Swanger, 48, of Clyde, N.C. (arrested)
Christy Helen Trull, 33, of Canton, N.C. (arrested)
Michael Kevin Vanlandingham, 61, of Canton, N.C. (arrested)

A second criminal indictment resulting from the investigation charges Joseph Daniel Perry, 30, of Candler, N.C. with two counts of distribution of methamphetamine. Perry has not been arrested yet. Daniel Guadalupe Martinez, 23, of Waynesville, N.C. is also charged separately with possession of an unregistered firearm and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon via a third indictment. Martinez was arrested on Sunday.

The defendants apprehended during the round up remain in federal custody, following their initial court appearance today in Asheville before U.S. Magistrate Judge W. Carleton Metcalf.

The charges contained in the indictments are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Kent of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville is leading the prosecution.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Case No. 1:21-cr-70

DEFENDANT	COUNT	CHARGE	STATUTORY PENALTIES
1) REBECCA LYNN BARKER	1	Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
	24	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
	25	Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime	Mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment (consecutive to the sentence on a drug count); maximum fine of $250,000; and maximum of 5 years of supervised release
2) ROBERT ALLAN BURNETTE a/k/a “Mater”	1	Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
	5	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
	6	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
	7	Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime	Mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment (consecutive to the sentence on a drug count); maximum fine of $250,000; and maximum of 5 years of supervised release
3) ANGELA VANCE CARVER	1	Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
	5	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
DEFENDANT	COUNT	CHARGE	STATUTORY PENALTIES
	27	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment; maximum of 40 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $5,000,000; and at least 4 years of supervised release
4) DEREK MICHAEL CLUFF	1	Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment; maximum of 40 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $5,000,000; and at least 4 years of supervised release
	17	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment; maximum of 40 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $5,000,000; and at least 4 years of supervised release
5) MARCUS BRANDON COBAUGH	1	Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment; maximum of 40 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $5,000,000; and at least 4 years of supervised release
	31	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment; maximum of 40 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $5,000,000; and at least 4 years of supervised release
6) LINDSAY NICOLE COBB a/k/a “Lou”	1	Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
	32	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
7) DAVID HUNTER CRESON	1	Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
	26	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
8) WILLIAM JOSEPH CRAIG a/k/a “Joey”	1	Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 15 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $20,000,000; and at least 10 years of supervised release
DEFENDANT	COUNTY	CHARGE	STATUTORY PENALTIES
	5	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 15 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $20,000,000; and at least 10 years of supervised release
	8	Distribution of a Controlled Substance	Maximum of 30 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $2,000,000; and at least 6 years of supervised release
	13	Distribution of a Controlled Substance	Maximum of 30 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $2,000,000; and at least 6 years of supervised release
	14	Distribution of a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $8,000,000; and at least 8 years of supervised release
	15	Distribution of a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $8,000,000; and at least 8 years of supervised release
	16	Distribution of a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $8,000,000; and at least 8 years of supervised release
	27	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $8,000,000; and at least 8 years of supervised release
	38	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Maximum of 30 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $2,000,000; and at least 6 years of supervised release
9) ARTHUR SHANE DOUVILLE	1	Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
	28	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
DEFENDANT	COUNT	CHARGE	STATUTORY PENALTIES
10) JAIME GAMEZ	1	Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $8,000,000; and at least 8 years of supervised release
	2	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Maximum of 30 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $2,000,000; and at least 6 years of supervised release
	12	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Maximum of 30 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $2,000,000; and at least 6 years of supervised release
	18	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $8,000,000; and at least 8 years of supervised release
11) JUSTIN CAROL GIBSON a/k/a “Baby Face”	1	Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
	9	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
	10	Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime	Mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment (consecutive to the sentence on a drug count); maximum fine of $250,000; and maximum of 5 years of supervised release
	11	Being a Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition	Maximum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $250,000; and maximum of 3 years of supervised release
12) JANE IVISON GILL	1	Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
	22	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
DEFENDANT	COUNT	CHARGE	STATUTORY PENALTIES
	24	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
13) SARAH JANE GILL	1	Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
	26	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
14) ROBERTO ILLERMA IBARRA a/k/a “Chico”	1	Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
	28	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
15) ELIZABETH GABRIELLE MANN a/k/a “Gabby”	1	Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment; maximum of 40 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $5,000,000; and at least 4 years of supervised release
	31	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment; maximum of 40 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $5,000,000; and at least 4 years of supervised release
16) JOSE ANDRES MARTINEZ a/k/a “Andy”	1	Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 15 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $20,000,000; and at least 10 years of supervised release
	30	Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition	Maximum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $250,000; and maximum of 3 years of supervised release
	32	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 15 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $20,000,000; and at least 10 years of supervised release
DEFENDANT	COUNT	CHARGE	STATUTORY PENALTIES
	33	Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime	Mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment (consecutive to the sentence on a drug count); maximum fine of $250,000; and maximum of 5 years of supervised release
	34	Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition	Maximum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $250,000; and maximum of 3 years of supervised release
17) KEITH ALLEN McMAHAN	1	Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
	28	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
18) NICHOLAS RAY MILLER	1	Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
	32	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
	35	Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition	Maximum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $250,000; and maximum of 3 years of supervised release
	36	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment; maximum of 40 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $5,000,000; and at least 4 years of supervised release
	37	Being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition	Maximum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $250,000; and maximum of 3 years of supervised release
19) RYAN WARREN MUSTER	1	Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
DEFENDANT	COUNT	CHARGE	STATUTORY PENALTIES
	4	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment; maximum of 40 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $5,000,000; and at least 4 years of supervised release
	29	Distribution of a Controlled Substance	Maximum of 20 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $1,000,000; and at least 3 years of supervised release
20) KELLY WOODROW ROSS	1	Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Maximum of 20 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $1,000,000; and at least 3 years of supervised release
	3	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Maximum of 20 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $1,000,000; and at least 3 years of supervised release
21) RICHARD ANTHONY SWANGER	1	Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
	19	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Maximum of 20 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $1,000,000; and at least 3 years of supervised release
	20	Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime	Mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment (consecutive to the sentence on a drug count); maximum fine of $250,000; and maximum of 5 years of supervised release
	23	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Maximum of 20 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $1,000,000; and at least 3 years of supervised release
22) CHRISTY HELEN TRULL	1	Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release
	27	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment; maximum of 40 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $5,000,000; and at least 4 years of supervised release
	32	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum of Life imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000,000; and at least 5 years of supervised release

DEFENDANT	COUNT	CHARGE	STATUTORY PENALTIES
23) MICHAEL KEVIN VANLANDINGHAM	1	Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment; maximum of 40 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $5,000,000; and at least 4 years of supervised release
	21	Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment; maximum of 40 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $5,000,000; and at least 4 years of supervised release

Case No. 1:21-cr-71

DEFENDANT	COUNT	CHARGE	STATUTORY PENALTIES
DANIEL GUADALUPE MARTINEZ	1	Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm	Maximum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $250,000; and maximum of 3 years of supervised release
	2	Being a Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition	Maximum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $250,000; and maximum of 3 years of supervised release
	3	Possession of an Unregistered Firearm	Maximum of 10 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $10,000; and maximum of 3 years of supervised release

Case No. 1:21-cr-72

DEFENDANT	COUNT	CHARGE	STATUTORY PENALTIES
JOSEPH DANIEL PERRY	1	Distribution of a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment; maximum of 40 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $5,000,000; and at least 4 years of supervised release
	2	Distribution of a Controlled Substance	Mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment; maximum of 40 years imprisonment; maximum fine of $5,000,000; and at least 4 years of supervised release

Updated August 16, 2021

Topics

Drug Trafficking

Firearms Offenses

Component

USAO - North Carolina, Western

Joint Law Enforcement Investigation Leads To The Indictment Of 25 Defendants On Federal Drug And Gun Charges

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