6 arrested in Lenoir following money laundering, drug probe

Six people were arrested on a cocaine trafficking charge in Lenoir this week following a federal probe of money laundering and drug trafficking between the U.S. and Mexico, authorities said.

They seized more than $250,000 in cash and three kilograms of powder cocaine with a street value of more than $300,000 from two Lenoir homes Tuesday. That’s the most money and drugs seized in one case in the city that Lenoir Police Capt. Couby Stilwell has seen in his 17 years with the force.

“It’s a huge one for us,” Stilwell said.

Nearly a dozen local, state and federal law enforcement agencies were involved in a federal Department of Homeland Security task force investigation that began in January.

During the investigation, police said, Edward Lee Allison Jr., 38, of Lenoir, was identified as allegedly being a major source of supplying cocaine into Caldwell and Catawba counties.

The suspects were arrested without incident Tuesday night after authorities executed search warrants at two of the suspects’ homes in Lenoir in the 200 block of Maple Place and the 400 block of S.W. Main Street.

Allison is in Caldwell County Jail in lieu of $1 million bail. He lived at the Main Street home that was searched.

Seven firearms, two of which had been reported stolen, also were seized. The weapons included handguns and rifles, Stilwell said.

Bessie Leona Hicks, 55, lived at the home on Maple Place. Hicks and the other suspects are in jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.

The others charged in the case are: Kristin Lichele Isbell, 33, of Lenoir; Thomas Allan Jones, 28, of Hickory; Larry Darnell Garvin, 20, of Hickory; and Carlos Renard Cornwell, 26, of Sherills Ford.

The investigation is ongoing, Stilwell said, and more arrests are expected.

The agencies involved in the investigation are the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Lenoir police, Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, Hickory police, Boone police, Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, Mooresville police, N.C. State Highway Patrol, Concord police, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police and the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office.

Lenoir is about 70 miles northwest of Charlotte.

This story was originally published April 24, 2015 at 9:47 AM with the headline "6 arrested in Lenoir following money laundering, drug probe."