Richmond County Residents Plead Guilty To Federal Drug and Firearm Charges

GREENSBORO, N.C. – United States Attorney Ripley Rand announced today that ten Richmond County men have recently pleaded guilty to federal drug and firearm charges in the Middle District of North Carolina and face lengthy federal sentences.

“These convictions remove dangerous criminals from the streets of Richmond County,” said U. S. Attorney Rand. “These men face long federal sentences as a result of the coordination of local, state, and federal law enforcement efforts. We especially commend law enforcement officers in Richmond County and District Attorney Reece Saunders for their cooperation and hard work on these cases.”

CASES SENTENCED

JOHNNY STEELE, age 46, of Mizpah Road, Rockingham, was federally indicted in the Middle District of North Carolina on June 27, 2011. On August 1, 2011, STEELE pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, and on December 8, 2011, he was sentenced to180 months in the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

BRIAN STEVEN MYERS, age 30, of Airport Road, Rockingham, was federally indicted in the Middle District of North Carolina on August 29, 2011. On October 3, 2011, MYERS pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, and on February 15, 2012, he was sentenced to 57 months in the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

CHRISTOPHER CHAD LEVINER, age 23, of Osborne Road, Rockingham, was federally indicted in the Middle District of North Carolina on July 25, 2011. On October 3, 2011, LEVINER pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and being a felon in possession of a firearm, and on February 15, 2012, he was sentenced to 120 months in the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

LAWRENCE TYRONE DYE, JR., age 32, of Wilderness Drive, Rockingham, was federally indicted in the Middle District of North Carolina on August 11, 2011. On October 3, 2011, DYE pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine base, and on February 15, 2012, he was sentenced to 70 months in the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

CASES PENDING SENTENCING

PHILLIP BRUCE KINGSLEY, age 64, of South Carolina Street, Rockingham, was federally indicted in the Middle District of North Carolina on October 31, 2011. On December 6, 2012, KINGSLEY pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. KINGSLEY is scheduled to be sentenced on April 18, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. in Greensboro.

JIMMY DELL OTT, JR., age 33, of Gathings Street, Rockingham, was federally indicted in the Middle District of North Carolina on October 31, 2011. On December 6, 2011, OTT pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. OTT is scheduled to be sentenced on April 18, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. in Greensboro.

MARCO MICHACA SILVA, age 35, of Airport Road, Rockingham, was federally indicted in the Middle District of North Carolina on October 31, 2011. On January 10, 2012, SILVA was convicted by a jury of reentry by a previously deported alien and being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. SILVA is scheduled to be sentenced on May 11, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. in Greensboro.

BRENT ALEXANDER EVERETT, age 22, of Daniels Street, Hamlet, was federally indicted in the Middle District of North Carolina on September 27, 2011. On November 9, 2011, EVERETT pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. EVERETT is scheduled to be sentenced on March 9, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. in Winston-Salem.

BOBBY DARRYL LEDBETTER, age 49, of Ledbetter Hailey Road, Rockingham, was federally indicted in the Middle District of North Carolina on October 31, 2011. On December 7, 2011, LEDBETTER pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. LEDBETTER is scheduled to be sentenced on April 19, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. in Greensboro.

MATTHEW LAMAR BEMBRY, age 27, Armstead Street, Rockingham, was federally indicted in the Middle District of North Carolina on September 27, 2011. On October 3, 2011, BEMBRY pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. BEMBRY is scheduled to be sentenced on March 19, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. in Winston-Salem.

The convictions referenced above are the result of close cooperation between the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Rockingham Police Department, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina.