WILMINGTON, N.C. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - North Carolina, Eastern), published as received.

WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Goldsboro, North Carolina man was sentenced today to 106 months in prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of Methamphetamine and Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of Methamphetamine. Brandon Phillips pled guilty to the charges on May 17, 2022. 

According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, On August 5, 2020, a deputy with the Wake County Sheriff’s Office in Raleigh, North Carolina stopped a vehicle in which Mr. Phillips was a passenger.  While conducting the traffic stop, the deputy observed Mr. Phillips moving around in the car as if trying to hide something.  After walking around the vehicle, a K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.  A search by law enforcement ultimately led to the seizure of approximately 495.3 grams of crystal methamphetamine, $3,033 in U.S. currency, and drug paraphernalia. 

Two related defendants have previously been sentenced:

  • Jason Michael Hyland (7:20-CR-130-M): sentenced to 134 months’ imprisonment.
  • Ashley Carol Shackelford (7:20-CR-130-M): sentenced to 90 months’ imprisonment.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wake County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci prosecuted the case.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number 5:21-CR-21-M.

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