Ash Street liquor house raided
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on August 10, 2017 5:50 AM
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Authorities raided a liquor located at 208 W. Ash St. Apt. 3 after police went to arrest the resident on unrelated charges on Wednesday.
Full SizeProbation and parole officers caught up with a man Wednesday wanted for promoting prostitution in another county and discovered his apartment on West Ash Street was a liquor house.
Wayne County ABC Law Enforcement Chief Joe Sadler said his agency was then called to the scene by the Goldsboro Police Department at about 12:30 p.m.
They discovered 96 bottles of liquor, bottles of moonshine and several hundred Jell-O shooters shaped like syringes.
"It was being run basically as a club," Sadler said.
Alkabeer Lewis, 27, of 208 W. Ash St. Apt. 3, is charged with possession of non-tax paid liquor, possession of alcohol with the intent to sell with no ABC permits, possession of Xanax, possession of marijuana and probation violation.
Lewis was wanted for violating his probation by way of promoting prostitution charges in New Hanover County, Sadler said.
When probation and parole officers did a warrantless search of his residence, they found the liquor house operation.
The apartment is tucked in-between two businesses in a business complex, just before the intersection of Ash Street and George Street.
Sadler said the bathroom had a "public restroom" sign on it, there was a music studio inside and the kitchen was set up to serve alcohol and produce Jell-O shots.
There was no beer or wine inside the apartment.
"He was dealing strictly just in moonshine, non-tax paid liquor and tax-paid liquor, which he was buying, and then he was producing the Jell-O shooters in large syringe-looking vessels that you use to shoot into your mouth," Sadler said.
Sadler said Lewis was likely purchasing the liquor from several ABC stores and stopping short of the limit of eight liters.
"He's only allowed to buy up to eight liters without a transportation permit," Sadler said. "He would actually have to show some I.D. and prove who he is if he bought more than that."
Sadler said the man did not provide any statement to law enforcement.
Lewis was put into the Wayne County Jail on the charges. His bond was not immediately available.
Goldsboro Police Chief Mike West did not return a phone call by press time seeking more information about the case.