Two Convicted Meth Traffickers Given Lengthy Prison Sentences

STATESVILLE, N.C. — A federal judge handed down lengthy prison terms to two drug traffickers who were involved in separate meth trafficking conspiracies.

Chuck Church Jr., 41, of Morganton, was sentenced to 240 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

In September 2017, Church pleaded guilty to meth trafficking conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute meth and possession of a firearm by a felon.  Officials say Church was part of a meth trafficking ring operating in and around Caldwell County between 2016 and 2017.  Over the course of the investigation, investigators seized meth, digital scales, drug paraphernalia, a sawed-off shotgun and $15,158 in cash.

Jeffrey Church, 54, of Connelly Springs, was sentenced to 169 months in prison.   According to court records, from 2014 to 2017, Church was responsible for trafficking methamphetamine in Caldwell and Catawba Counties and elsewhere.

Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement recovered narcotics, $9,569 in U.S. currency, stolen handguns and other firearms, including two AR-15 rifles. In December 2017, Church pleaded guilty to a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy. In addition to the prison term imposed, Judge Voorhees also ordered Church to serve five years under court supervision upon completion of his prison terms.

The two defendants were charged as part of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. According to court documents, since 2015, more than 200 individuals have been prosecuted as a result of this OCDETF investigation. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement have seized more than 20 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, $500,000 in U.S. currency and other assets, and dozens of firearms.