FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
WEDNESDAY - February 2, 2011
TWO SENTENCED IN METHAMPHETAMINE CONSPIRACY
RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court on January 31, 2011, Senior United States District Judge W. Earl Britt sentenced two brothers for their participation in an illegal drug distribution ring. JOHN ASHLEY DAVIS, 43, of Faison, North Carolina, was sentenced to 110 months’ imprisonment followed by five years supervised release. KENNETH WEBSTER DAVIS, 48, of Clinton, North Carolina, received 60 months’ imprisonment followed by five years supervised release.
On May 10, 2010, JOHN and KENNETH DAVIS each pleaded guilty to conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine from 1998 to 2009.
The investigation revealed that JOHN DAVIS and KENNETH DAVIS were involved in this 10-year conspiracy in the use, distribution, and manufacture of methamphetamine in and around Duplin and Sampson County. The DAVIS’ involvement ranged from participating in the “cooking” of methamphetamine or providing the necessary precursor chemicals to facilitate the manufacture of the substance; to distributing methamphetamine for use by themselves and others in their communities.
Mr. Holding commented, “From individuals who ‘cook’ methamphetamine to those providing the necessary ingredients which make the manufacture possible, each perpetuates the devastation caused by this poison remaining in our district. The incarceration of such persons removes them from the communities which they have harmed for many years.”
This case was brought as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Operation entitled Fire Ants, investigating distributors of methamphetamine in and around Duplin County. To date, over 30 people have pleaded guilty and been sentenced in federal court. Investigation of this case was conducted by the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration - Wilmington Resident Office. Assistant United States Attorney Brian S. Meyers and Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Severo represented the government. Mr. Severo is a prosecutor with the New Hanover District Attorney’s Office. District Attorney Ben David has assigned him to the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force criminal matters. This has been made possible by a grant funded by the Governor’s Crime Commission and the New Hanover County Commissioners.
News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.
