Duplin County Sheriff Blake Wallace shows a picture of the meth lab uncovered at 209 Lawton Road in Wallace. Three people were charged after a lengthy investigation.
Duplin County Sheriff Blake Wallace said at a press conference Thursday that Ken Webster Davis, of 101 Kings Road, Clinton; and John Ashley Davis, of 539 Emmett Jackson Road, Faison, were each charged with conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess that substance.
Wallace said the two men were arrested last week in Faison and charged.
“These are pretty serious charges,” Wallace said. “These arrests were a result of a long-term investigation with our drug unit and the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration out of Wilmington.”
The sheriff said warrants were issued after a lengthy undercover investigation, and the warrants were served late last week.
“John was picked up at a traffic stop outside of Faison,” Wallace said. “Ken was picked up at his home in Clinton ... I cannot go into a lot of details about the case, because this is a federal case and this is coming off of a long-term investigation. What is determined was that both men were majorly involved with the distribution of methamphetamine.”
Both men are in federal custody in New Hanover County jail awaiting trial.
Meth Lab Discovered
The sheriff also announced that three Wallace residents were charged after investigators followed up on two out-of-county arrests that led them to a meth lab.
Shelby Raven Sholar, Zacchary Paul Gilbert, and Justin Ralph Griffin, all of 209 Lawton Road, Wallace, were each charged separately with two counts of possession/distribute meth precursor; maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/place for controlled substance; manufacturing methamphetamine; and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Wallace said the Jacksonville (N.C.) Police Department contacted the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office after finding what appeared to be receipts of large amounts of pseudoephedrine.
“Large amounts of pseudoephedrine had been purchased by Sholar and Gilbert,” Wallace said. “Upon going to the residence, they discovered a meth lab there. Further investigation revealed that Ms. Sholar’s brother, Justin Griffin, also resided at the residence and was also involved in the manufacturing with the meth lab.”
Wallace explained that Sholar and Gilbert were stopped in Onslow County and placed in custody after the receipts were discovered. Griffin later showed up at the jail.
“There was what appeared to be a rather large amount of liquid methamphetamine, known as meth oil, that was detected at the site,” said Wallace. “It is still being processed by the SBI, so there could be additional charges to follow.”
Griffin was placed under a $405,500 bond; Gilbert was given a $100,000 bond; and Sholar was given a $250,000 bond. All three remain in jail and will each appear in court Jan. 15 in Duplin County.
“I would just like to thank the Jacksonville Police Department for their quick response, as well as our investigators and the response from our team,” Wallace said.
Post a Comment
