CHARLOTTE, N.C. - U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Charlotte has returned criminal indictments against five defendants, for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking in the Statesville area.
The five defendants named in the indictments and the charges they face are:
* Charles Mills, 34, of Statesville, is charged with nine counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
* Dorey Joyner, 34, of Statesville, is charged with five counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
* Myles Foote, 25, of Statesville, is charged with four counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
* Lashon Maurice, Gaither, 40, of Statesville, is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
* Terry Barringer, 61, of Statesville, is charged with four counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Each charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison and $1,000,000 fine per count.
The details 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.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office for handling the investigation that led the federal charges. U.S. Attorney Murray also thanked Iredell County District Attorney Sarah M. Kirkman for her office’s continued coordination and support of the PSN initiative.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lambert Guinn, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, is prosecuting these cases.
These case have been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. In May 2019, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, announced the revitalization of PSN in Statesville, as part of a law enforcement initiative to drive down criminal activity in the area. Including today’s indictments, the Statesville-area PSN initiative has led to the prosecution of 18 defendants on federal narcotics and/or firearms offenses, and the seizure of 25 firearms, six of which had been reported stolen.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
