Goldsboro man sentenced in federal court on drug charges
By From staff reports
Published in News on April 11, 2013 1:46 PM
A Goldsboro man has been sentenced to 156 months in prison for dealing drugs.
Federal District Court Judge James C. Dever III sentenced Joel Artis, 37, in March to the term followed by three years probation for possession with intent to distribute marijuana and cocaine.
Artis pleaded guilty to the charges.
According to evidence presented in court, Artis met co-defendant Eric Henry at a store in Goldsboro, where Henry offered to sell Artis some marijuana. A time and place were set for the drug deal to occur. Artis went to the specified location and waited. Co-defendant Isiah Young got into Artis' car and handed him nearly two pounds of marijuana. As Artis turned to put the bag in the back seat, he saw co-defendant Thompson walking up on the side of the vehicle.
Artis looked back at Young and Young was pointing a gun at him.
Thompson got in the back seat, and Artis grabbed his own gun and shot Young. A fight ensued between Artis and Young, with Artis firing his weapon again. Eventually, Young and Thompson fled on foot. Officers, responding to a 911 call, observed a vehicle committing traffic violations. Officers stopped the vehicle, which contained Henry, Thompson, Young and a driver. Young had been shot. After smelling marijuana, officers saw a plastic bag full of marijuana in plain view and two guns, covered with blood, on the floorboard.
Henry, Thompson, and Young were arrested. During a search of Artis' vehicle, officers found a small amount of cocaine, marijuana, and set of scales.
While awaiting sentencing, Artis was involved in another drug deal on Sept. 4, 2012, at the Lighthouse Market in Goldsboro. Artis was arrested and found in possession of 0.73 gram of heroin, 6.76 grams of cocaine, and other drugs.