3 more sent to prison in NC meth trafficking ring

Three men were sentenced to prison this week for their roles in a methamphetamine trafficking ring that stretched from Mexico to North Carolina, U.S. Attorney Anne Tompkins said.

Fifty-seven defendants have been prosecuted federally in connection with Operation “Dixie Crystal,” which began in 2012.

The investigation targeted significant meth traffickers in Ashe, Allegheny, Caldwell, Watauga and Wilkes counties, and Johnson County, Tenn., Tompkins said.

Sentenced this week were:

Bennett pleaded guilty in December 2013 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, Bennett was a leader of the ring and a supplier of crystal methamphetamine smuggled from Mexico.

Yount and Waters pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine in November 2013 and April 2014, respectively.

According to court records, from 2003 through 2011, the ring sold at least 200 pounds of methamphetamine with a street value of at least $4 million.

During the investigation, officers seized about 30 weapons, five vehicles, 20 pounds of methamphetamine and $150,000.

This story was originally published February 4, 2015 at 8:35 AM with the headline "3 more sent to prison in NC meth trafficking ring."