FED CHARGES LEVELED

Eight Area Residents Federally Indicted on Methamphetamine Charges,
First Ever in State

Eight local residents are facing federal prison sentences, ranging
from minimum sentences of 10 years to life in prison, following a
lengthy, historical investigation by federal, state and local
authorities into the manufacture of methamphetamine locally.

Producing the first-ever federal meth convictions in the state,
"Operation Juiced Out" has taken a substantial bite out of the meth
activity in the county and sent a strong message to others, Sampson
County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton said upon the announcement of the
federal indictments Monday.

Thornton, joined at the Sampson County Law Enforcement Center by U.S.
Attorney George E.B. Holding and several officials within the State
Bureau of Investigation, talked about the nature of the case and its
effect on the meth problem in Sampson.

"Methamphetamine is a dangerous drug that can be deadly not only for
the persons who use it and make it, but for persons who live near the
clandestine labs that produce the substance," said Thornton. "This
drug has destroyed many lives and will continue to destroy lives,
unless some type of intervention occurs. Through the gracious efforts
of those involved, we were able to launch 'Juiced Out.'"

The eight indictments, were repeat drug offenders and all but one,
deemed the ringleader, were linked to meth lab discoveries in the county.

"The Sampson County Sheriff's Office and the SBI investigated these
labs and determined there was a ring of meth cooks and pill
purchasers who were the root cause of the deadly meth problem they
were confronting," Holding said. "They were cooking on a daily basis,
using their homes. Cooking meth is not like cooking anything you
would want to have in your body. It's clear their destroying
themselves from the inside out."

And the legal ramifications of the meth manufacturing and
distribution will be felt tremendously, law officials said.

The Culprits

Facing federal sentences are Craig Hobbs, 43, of Clinton; Sabrina Ann
Royal, 23, of Clinton; Adam Strickland, 23, of Faison; Corey Reed
Harmon, 20, of Autryville; Stevie McClenny, 51, of Roseboro; William
Henry Paschall, 32, of Stedman; Samuel Faircloth, 42, of Autryville;
and Ramon Singleton, 32, of Newton Grove.

All eight have pleaded guilty to various federal charges in federal
court. Holding noted that, out of the eight, half are facing a
minimum of 15 years in prison. Life sentences are also a possibility.

"What you see up here is the culmination of the work of the federal
government, state government and local government coming together and
taking a stand against meth," said Jerry Weaver, head supervisor for the SBI.

Holding called the eight individuals "the worst of the
methamphetamine producers" in Sampson County and the surrounding
area. Holding said Hobbs was the "lynch pin" in the methamphetamine
trafficking problem in Sampson County, which he said was of epidemic
proportions.

According to the investigation, which spanned a year and a half,
Hobbs legally purchased anhydrous ammonia and sold it to others for
meth production. Hobbs received a license in 2004 to purchase
anhydrous ammonia, "fraudulently representing himself as an air
conditioning repairman," Holding said.

While Hobbs would take money as payment for the anhydrous ammonia,
key to meth production, he preferred to take a cut of the meth
manufactured for his fee. Investigators said Hobbs sold or traded the
anhydrous ammonia, estimating a "low-ball" total of 4.29 kilograms of
a mixture containing methamphetamine produced as a result of the conspiracy.

Based on SBI statistics, Sampson County has had a confirmed 24 meth
labs in 2008, placing it second in the state. However, the number
could have been much higher, the sheriff attests.

Sampson sheriff's agents busted the 12th meth lab on the year back on
Feb. 21 after busting that many during all of 2007.

"We had already matched that in 2008," said Thornton. "It became
apparent to me the meth problem was getting out of hand."

He would have discussions with Holding about the problem and,
Thornton remarked, "the ball got rolling from that point on. We've
seen a dramatic decrease (in labs) from then up to now. There's no
telling how many labs there would be at this point."

Thornton said the eight indicted were producing the most meth in the
county. They were cooking it in their homes, the sheriff said.

The Consequences

Hobbs, Strickland, Royal and Harmon each have pleaded guilty to
conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute
more than 500 grams or more of a mixture containing a detectable
amount of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance
of a drug trafficking crime.

Hobbs faces 10 years to life. Strickland, Royal and Harmon face 15
years to life.

McClenny, Paschall, Faircloth and Singleton each pleaded guilty to
conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute
more than five grams or more of a mixture containing a detectable
amount of methamphetamine. Paschall also pleaded to possession of a
firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

McClenny, Faircloth and Singleton face up to 20 years in federal
prison. Paschall faces a term of 15 years to life.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Wells, who served as prosecutor for
the government, said that each of the eight are being held in federal
custody in various locations in the eastern district of North
Carolina as they await sentencing.

The sentencing hearings are scheduled for February and March.

"There's no parole in federal prison," said Holding. "That is the
hammer of the federal prison, and we were glad we could bring that
here to Sampson County, to the people who are decimating their community."

"These individuals have to be punished severely enough so they would
know the grave consequences of their actions," noted Thornton. "I can
tell you that it has already had an impact on this county, and the
prosecution of these individuals will only make that message stronger."