Yet another Duplin County resident has received a lengthy prison sentence in a far-reaching drug trafficking conspiracy investigated by county, state and federal agencies.

The latest to be sentenced is Jonathan Rainer Williams, 34, who was given 200 months (16 years, eight months) imprisonment in federal court Tuesday. That sentence will be followed by five years supervised release.

Williams pleaded guilty in January to conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. The guilty plea stemmed from an August 2008 traffic stop.

According to information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, on Aug. 29, 2008, a traffic stop was performed by deputies with the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office on the vehicle in which Williams and a co-defendant were traveling. It was suspected of transporting narcotics. During the stop, officers subsequently found four ounces of methamphetamine on Williams, investigators said.

The investigation, according to the U.S. Attorney, revealed that Williams was responsible for distributing more than 40 kilograms of methamphetamine into Duplin County and that he maintained a leadership role in the organization.

Williams’ case was brought as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Operation entitled “Fire Ants,” investigating importers and multi-level distribution of Mexican manufactured methamphetamine being distributed into eastern North Carolina. The organization is responsible for importing and distributing more than 100 kilograms of methamphetamine into the eastern part of the state, authorities said.

Several other Duplin County residents have received sizable terms behind bars in recent months for their involvement in the drug ring.

“We are grateful for the court’s sentence in this case,” said U.S. Attorney George E.B. Holding in a prepared statement. “This defendant, and members of this conspiracy, were responsible for distributing more than 80 pounds of methamphetamine in Duplin County. Methamphetamine is one of the most dangerous and addictive illegal drugs. The court’s sentence certainly reflects the seriousness of this offense.”

Joining Duplin County Sheriff’s Office in the investigation was the Drug Enforcement Administration out of Wilmington, the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Beulaville Police Department and the North Carolina Department of Community Corrections.

Chris Berendt can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 121, or by email at sicrime@myclintonnc.com.