Joint Law Enforcement Efforts In Union County Result In Lengthy Sentences For Five Drug And Gun Offenders

 Eight Others Have Pleaded Guilty and Are Currently Awaiting Sentencing

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Acting U.S. Attorney William T. Stetzer announced today that five individuals have been sentenced to date on drug and gun charges as a result of proactive investigations led by federal and local law enforcement in Union County.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) partnered with the Union County Sheriff’s Office and the Monroe Police Department in joint investigations to identify drug and gun offenders operating in and around Union County. The investigative teams engaged in undercover operations including controlled buys of narcotics and illegal firearms. Over the course of the investigations, law enforcement also seized methamphetamine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, and 56 firearms.

Of the 13 defendants charged in connection with these investigations, five have been sentenced to date as follows:

• Princeton Patterson, 33, of Wadesboro, N.C., was sentenced today to 188 months in prison and four years of supervised release. Patterson pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon. (Docket No. 3:20-cr-221)
• Markiel Tyson, 29, of Pageland, South Carolina, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison and four years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. (3:20-cr-221)
• Cameron Jamal McManus, 29, also of Pageland, was ordered today to serve 120 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. (3:20-cr-221)
• On May 13, 2021, Rico Lorodge Brown, 32, of Monroe, N.C., was sentenced to 180 months in prison and four years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. (3:20-cr-223)
• Alvin Thomas, Jr., 41, of Charlotte, was sentenced on May 13, 2021, to 120 months in prison and four years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. (3:20-cr-278)
   
  The following defendants have pleaded guilty and are currently awaiting sentencing.
   

• Santuron Cureton, 39, of Lancaster, South Carolina, has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon, distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. (3:20-cr-216)
• Jamorris Demonte Sanders, 21, of Chester, South Carolina, has pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, dealing firearms without a license, and distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. (3:20-cr-218)
• Timonth Antonio Flanagan, 35, of Lancaster, has pleaded guilty to crack cocaine trafficking conspiracy and distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. (3:20-cr-218)
• Chareo Demarcus Johnson, 21, of Lancaster, has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon and distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. (3:21-cr-66)
• Diante Ramon Brown, 22, of Rock Hill, South Carolina, has pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. (3:20-cr-222)
• Elliott Carmel Fincher, 32, of Marshville, N.C., has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. (3:20-cr-217)
• Larry Eddie Crowder Jr., 32, of Waxhaw, N.C., has pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. (3:20-cr-219)
• Bridget Cherie Chambers, 32, of Monroe, has pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. (3:20-cr-27).

In making today's announcement Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer commended the ATF, FBI, DEA, the Union County Sheriff's Office and the Monroe Police Department for their investigative efforts.

The prosecution for the government was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Kelly and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Stephanie Spaugh. Ms. Spaugh is a state prosecutor with the office of the 26^th Prosecutorial District and was assigned by District Attorney Spencer Merriweather to serve as a SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.  Ms. Spaugh is duly sworn in both state and federal courts.  The SAUSA position is a reflection of the partnership between the office of the 26^th Prosecutorial District and the United States Attorney’s Office.