Daniel P. Bubar Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina
A Whiteville man has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for drug trafficking. Marion Lamont Flowers, age 43, pled guilty on February 9, 2024, to charges related to trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. "Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III," according to an official statement.
The investigation into Flowers began in 2020 by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Whiteville Police Department, and the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office. Over a period from December 2020 to July 2021, law enforcement supervised several controlled purchases of cocaine and methamphetamine from Flowers. On July 20, 2021, they apprehended him while he attempted to sell 1 kilogram of methamphetamine. Authorities found 893.8 grams of methamphetamine in his vehicle, along with more than $2000 in cash and a loaded handgun.
Further investigation revealed that Flowers operated out of an EconoLodge hotel room. Searches of the hotel rooms resulted in the seizure of MDMA pills, Xanax pills, Alprazolam, Buprenorphine pills, 37 grams of cocaine base (crack), 249 grams of cocaine, 27 grams of fentanyl, and nearly $4000 in cash.
Flowers' criminal history extends to 1995 with convictions for assault and robbery with a dangerous weapon. He was involved in a robbery that resulted in the shooting of a customer. He also pled guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery in 2004 and drug-related charges in 2016. The sentencing judge cited his poor conduct during prior incarcerations, noting over 30 infractions.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Lemons. The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, the Whiteville Police Department, and the Columbus County Sheriff were involved in the investigation. Further court documents are accessible through the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or PACER under Case No. 7:22-CR-00135-D-001.
