Meth Kingpin Noles Sentenced to 24+ Years

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The grim reaper of the drug trade met his match as Keith Ryan Noles, 44, of Marble, N.C., was yesterday locked away for a stunning 296 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release due to his role in methamphetamine trafficking and gun possession.

Noles stood trial alongside Tina Hill, 47, also from Marble. The jury was a witness to their downfall when they convicted the duo in March 2024 on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, actual distribution attempts, and aiding in the drug trade. Noles also admitted to being a feloon in possession of firearms.

Law enforcement’s Texas intercepts turned into a game-changer when over eight pounds of meth were seized. The trail led back to Hill and Noles in North Carolina. Testimony revealed that their supplier or representative made several runs between 2020 and 2021, delivering packages of death to the pair and collecting cash in return.

The feds were relentless, intercepting a controlled delivery meant for Hill and Noles. The drug kingpin was nabbed as soon as he arrived at his Marble residence, followed by Hill’s arrest shortly after. The drug war was far from over when the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office joined forces with Homeland Security Investigations to dismantle this meth syndicate.

U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson praised the agencies for their relentless pursuit of justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Annabelle Chambers led the prosecution, a testament to the partnership between state and federal law enforcement. The SAUSA position solidified this alliance, guaranteeing that cases like Noles’ would be prosecuted with vigor.

This sentence sends a chilling message to drug traffickers everywhere: justice is relentless, and when you deal in death, you face life’s harshest penalties. For Keith Ryan Noles, the meth kingpin, it’s over. For North Carolina, it’s a victory against organized crime.”