Seventeen Charged with Violations of Federal Narcotics Laws

Greensboro, NC – A group of seventeen persons from the Davidson County area were indicted by a federal grand jury in Greensboro on December 17, 2007.

Anna Mills Wagoner, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina, announced the indictment of the following persons for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possess pseudoephedrine knowing that it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine:

1. BENNY WAYNE FRANKLIN, age 31, of Denton, NC
2. BILLY RAY FRANKLIN, age 33, of Denton, NC
3. TIMOTHY SCOTT WAGNER, also known as “Coolie,” age 43, of Thomasville, NC
4. LAURA LYNN BLAIR, age 39, of Thomasville, NC
5. TRACY GLEN STRICKLAND, age 39, of Denton, NC
6. BENJAMIN RAY STEFFEY, age 27, of Asheville, NC
7. JAVETTA MORROW ROBINETTE, also known as “Susie,” age 43, of Thomasville, NC
8. ASHLEY NICHOLE MORROW, age 23, of Thomasville, NC
9. SCOTTY LYNN PULLUM, age 25, of Thomasville, NC
10. TIMOTHY DANIEL STRICKLAND, age 31, of Denton, NC
11. TAMARA HOBBS STRICKLAND, age 35, of Denton, NC
12. CRAIG LEROY ROBBINS, age 50, of Trinity, NC
13. LARRY CRAIG STILLWELL, age 37, address
14. CRYSTAL GAYLE HODGES, age 25, of Thomasville, NC
15. TONY WAYNE HUGHES, age 24, of Lexington, NC
16. LISA TODD KINLEY, age 46, of Denton, NC
17. CHRISTOPHER LEE WOODLIEF, age 23, of Denton, NC

The Indictment results from a lengthy investigation involving the joint efforts of several law enforcement agencies, including Sheriff David S. Grice and the Davidson County Sheriff’s Department, as well as the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the United States Marshal’s Service.

United States Attorney Anna Mills Wagoner stated that this investigation and indictment demonstrates the positive outcome of cooperation among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, and is a serious attempt to address a growing problem with the manufacture of methamphetamine in the Davidson County area.

If convicted, each defendant faces a sentence of a minimum mandatory term of 10 years imprisonment up to life imprisonment, up to a $4,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release to follow any term of imprisonment imposed. The actual sentence in each case will be determined by the Court under the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines which depend upon a number of factors unique to each case, including the defendant's prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the unique characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

An indictment is merely a formal way of bringing charges against an individual. All persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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