Kinston man sentenced for possession of meth
By For the News-Argus
Published in News on September 11, 2009 1:46 PM
WILMINGTON -- A Kinston man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Yadira Avilez-Lopez, 22, pleaded guilty in June to possession with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine.
On July 10, 2008, an undercover investigator ordered a kilogram of methamphetamine from Avilez-Lopez and Lenoir County Sheriff's Office detectives arrested her shortly after. During a search of her car, detectives found 438 grams of methamphetamine.
The officers then executed a search warrant at Avilez-Lopez's home, where they found $27,000.00, a .45 caliber pistol, an SKS assault rifle and items associated with drug distribution.
This case was brought as a part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Operation entitled Fire Ants, investigating international and national importers and the multilevel distributors of methamphetamine.
The organization was responsible for the importation and distribution of more than 100 kilograms of methamphetamine into eastern North Carolina since 2005 and several kilograms of cocaine.
To date, a total of 15 people have pleaded guilty and been sentenced in federal court.