CHARLOTTE, N.C. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - North Carolina, Western), published as received.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal criminal indictment has been unsealed, charging five individuals with conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and related offenses, announced William T. Stetzer, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
The indictment charges Charles Ray Hildebran, 46, of Hickory, N.C.; Phillip Anthony Godfrey, 47, of Newton, N.C.; Jeffrey Ben Pavkovich, 52, of Gainesville, Georgia; Britton Nicole Metcalf, 34, of Morganton, N.C.; and Billy Dean Potter, 36, of Hickory, N.C., with conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine. The defendants are also charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and/or distribution of methamphetamine. Hildebran, Godfrey, Pavkovich and Metcalf are also facing firearms offenses. (See chart below for a list of charges and statutory penalties for each defendant).
According to allegations contained in the indictment, from at least 2018 to October 2021, the defendants were involved in a drug trafficking network that distributed methamphetamine in and around Buncombe, Burke, Catawba, and McDowell Counties. The indictment further alleges that the defendants engaged in multiple drug sales and that Hildebran, Godfrey, Pavkovich and Metcalf also possessed firearms in furtherance of their drug trafficking activities. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement recovered 20 illegal firearms, narcotics, and more than $100,000 in U.S. currency.
The defendants are currently in federal custody following their initial court appearances.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
In making today’s announcement, Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration in Charlotte and Atlanta; the Department of Homeland Security- Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation; the North Carolina Highway Patrol; the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Community Corrections; the Georgia Department of Corrections; the Burke County Sheriff’s Office; the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office; the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office; the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office; the Hickory Police Department; the Long View Police Department; and the Newton Police Department for their coordinated investigation of this case.
Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Hess, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, is in charge of the prosecution.
|
CHARLES RAY HILDEBRAN |
1
|
Methamphetamine Conspiracy -50 grams or more actual -500 grams or more mixture |
10 years to life in prison, maximum fine of $10,000,000 |
|
|
8 |
Distribute Methamphetamine -5 grams or more actual |
5 to 40 years in prison, maximum fine of $5,000,000 |
|
|
9, 11 |
Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine -Count 9: 500 grams or more mixture -Count 11: 50 grams or more actual and 500 grams or more mixture |
10 years to life in prison, maximum fine of $10,000,000 |
|
|
10 |
Distribute Methamphetamine -50 grams or more actual and 500 grams or more mixture |
10 years to life in prison, maximum fine of $10,000,000 |
|
|
12 |
Possess Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime |
5 years to life in prison, consecutive to a sentence imposed on a drug count, maximum fine of $250,000 |
|
|
13 |
Possess Firearms by Felon
|
10 years in prison, maximum fine of $250,000 |
|
1
|
Methamphetamine Conspiracy -50 grams or more actual -500 grams or more mixture |
10 years to life in prison, maximum fine of $10,000,000 |
|
|
|
3, 18
|
Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine -Count 3: 50 grams or more actual -Count 18: 50 grams or more actual and 500 grams or more mixture |
10 years to life in prison, maximum fine of $10,000,000 |
|
|
4
|
Possess a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime |
5 years to life in prison, consecutive to a sentence imposed on a drug count, maximum fine of $250,000 |
|
|
19 |
Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine -5 grams or more actual |
5 to 40 years in prison, maximum fine of $5,000,000
|
|
JEFFREY BEN PAVKOVICH |
1
|
Methamphetamine Conspiracy -50 grams or more of actual -500 grams or more mixture |
10 years to life in prison, maximum fine of $10,000,000 |
|
|
2
|
Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine -50 grams or more mixture |
5 to 40 years in prison, maximum fine of $5,000,000 |
|
|
15 |
Distribute Methamphetamine -50 grams or more actual |
10 years to life in prison, maximum fine of $10,000,000 |
|
|
16 |
Possess Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime |
5 years to life in prison, consecutive to a sentence imposed on a drug count, maximum fine of $250,000 |
|
|
17 |
Possess Firearms by Felon
|
10 years in prison, maximum fine of $250,000 |
|
BRITTON NICOLE METCALF |
1 |
Methamphetamine Conspiracy -50 grams or more actual -500 grams or more mixture |
10 years to life in prison, maximum fine of $10,000,000 |
|
|
5 |
Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine -50 grams or more mixture |
5 to 40 years in prison, maximum fine of $5,000,000 |
|
|
6 |
Possess Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime |
5 years to life in prison, consecutive to a sentence imposed on a drug count, maximum fine of $250,000 |
|
|
7 |
Possess Firearms by Felon
|
10 years in prison, maximum fine of $250,000 |
|
|
9, 14 |
Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine -Count 9: 500 grams or more mixture -Count 14: 50 grams or more actual and 500 grams or more mixture |
10 years to life in prison, maximum fine of $10,000,000 |
|
BILLY DEAN POTTER
|
1 |
Methamphetamine Conspiracy -50 grams or more actual -500 grams or more mixture |
10 years to life in prison, maximum fine of $10,000,000 |
|
|
21, 23, 24 |
Distribute Methamphetamine -50 grams or more actual |
10 years to life in prison, maximum fine of $10,000,000 |
