Alphonso Lewis, Methamphetamine Distribution, North Carolina 2022

A notorious Raleigh man has been sentenced to 10+ years in federal prison for his role in distributing kilograms of methamphetamine to Eastern North Carolina.

Alphonso Lewis, 47, was handed down the 121-month sentence by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and other evidence presented in court, Lewis was arrested on August 22, 2022, after a traffic stop by a Sampson County Sheriff’s deputy. The deputy had conducted the stop on Interstate 40 for a traffic violation and subsequently discovered 901 grams of pure methamphetamine and 350 grams of marijuana in a package mailed from McAllen, Texas to Knightdale, North Carolina.

The deputy, trained in drug interdiction, noted the unusual behavior of Lewis, who continued to grab and eat chicken wings while being questioned. This, combined with the source city of McAllen, Texas, gave the deputy probable cause to open the package.

During the course of the investigation, it was uncovered that Lewis had distributed more than 5 kilograms of methamphetamine to Eastern North Carolina from 2021 until his federal arrest in August 2022. Some of the methamphetamine was reportedly provided by a Blood gang member in Greensboro, North Carolina.

U.S. Attorney Michael Easley praised the efforts of local law enforcement, stating, “Our office is proud to support our local law enforcement partners like Sampson County Sheriff’s Office in their battle to eliminate narcotics trafficking in their communities.”

The Sampson County Sheriff’s Office also expressed its pride in the partnership with federal agencies, saying, “Our agency has been proactive in seeking out and apprehending drug criminals. Many such drug peddlers have been located along Interstate 40 in our county.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security, and Sampson and Duplin County Sheriffs’ Offices investigated the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo prosecuting the case.

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