Hickory Man Sentenced to 14 Years for Methamphetamine Trafficking

A federal judge has sentenced Joseph William Patton, 34, of Hickory, N.C. to 168 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for trafficking methamphetamine in Catawba and Caldwell counties.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell handed down the sentence on Thursday [Date Not Specified but likely July 20, 2023] for Patton’s role as a major source of supply of methamphetamine in the two counties.

According to court documents and the sentencing hearing, law enforcement conducted a joint investigation into Patton’s drug trafficking activities between April and December 2022. The investigation included arranging multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine from the defendant.

On December 12, 2022, law enforcement initiated a traffic stop of the vehicle Patton was a passenger in for an expired tag violation. During the stop, they recovered a firearm, $5,448 in cash, and several baggies filled with methamphetamine, fentanyl, and Xanax pills.

On the same day, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Patton’s residence, where they recovered a 9 mm rifle and four magazines.

Patton pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on July 20, 2023.

Patton is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

The ATF, the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hickory Police Department conducted the investigation.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney William Wiseman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

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