Federal Indictment Charges 15 With Drug Trafficking Conspiracy; Six More Face State Drug Charges

Law enforcement arrested 13 during early-morning round up; Law enforcement still looking for two defendants

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal criminal indictment was unsealed today in U.S. District Court, charging 15 defendants with drug trafficking conspiracy and related charges, announced Anne M. Tompkins, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. FBI agents and officers with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department conducted an early morning round-up, arresting 13 of the 15 named in the federal indictment.

U.S. Attorney Tompkins is joined in making today’s announcement by John A. Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division and Chief Rodney D. Monroe, of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD).

The 15 defendants named in a federal indictment unsealed today are:

• Noel Rondell Alexander, a/k/a “Floyd,” 25 of Charlotte. (in custody)
• Akanni Butler, a/k/a “KB,” 29, of Charlotte. (in custody)
• Anthony Carter, a/k/a “Sanchez,” 26, of Charlotte. (in custody)
• Akeem Ford, a/k/a “Nike,” 21, of Charlotte. (in custody)
• Kenate Funderburk, a/k/a “Tay,” 35, of Charlotte. (in custody)
• Shemia Glenn, a/k/a “Pooh,” 22, of Charlotte. (not arrested yet)
• Isaac Hampton, a/k/a “Ike,” 26, of Charlotte. (in custody)
• William Kee, III, 20, of Charlotte. (in custody)
• Anthony C. Lindsay, a/k/a “Chez,” 26, of Charlotte. (in custody)
• Keith Rivera, 23, of Charlotte. (in custody)
• Rodney Smith, a/k/a “Man,” 22, of Charlotte. (in custody)
• Jonathan Stewart, a/k/a “J Rock,” 29, of Charlotte. (in custody)
• Antonio Sullivan, a/k/a “Pooh,” 36, of Charlotte. (not arrested yet) • Vincent Thompson, 32, of Charlotte. (in custody)
• Jamel Watson, a/k/a “Man,”18, of Charlotte. (in custody)

(See chart below for a breakdown of federal charges and potential penalties for each defendant).

In addition to the 15 federal defendants charged today, six more defendants face state drug and related charges:

• Demontrez Mobley, 21, of Charlotte. (in custody)
• Kadarian Cortez Ford, 18, of Charlotte (in custody)
• Larry Yeargin, 36, of Charlotte. (in custody)
• Elijah Parker, 20, formerly of Charlotte (previously in state custody)
• Scott Mayfield, 26, of Charlotte. (not arrested yet)
• Ty’Darrien Cortez Ford, 20, of Charlotte. (not arrested yet)

The federal defendants will have their initial appearances today in federal court.

Today’s arrests and indictments are the result of an eight month investigation conducted by federal and local law enforcement agencies dedicated to making our streets and communities safer. The agencies involved in the initiative include the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina, the FBI, CMPD’s Gang Unit, Vice & Narcotics Unit, and Metro Division, and the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office, with assistance from the North Carolina Division of Community Corrections. The goal of the investigation is to target and reduce violent crime in Mecklenburg County, with special emphasis placed on a street corner in Beatties Ford Road area, formerly controlled by the conspirators.

“Today’s arrests are the result of a coordinated effort of law enforcement partners, working together to target a hot spot for criminal activity. We will continue to work side-by-side side to identify and prosecute those who are responsible for spreading drugs in our streets and wreaking havoc in our neighborhoods,” said U.S. Attorney Tompkins. Tompkins also commended all the agents and officers who participated in this morning’s round up and thanked them for their commitment to serving and protecting our communities.

“The FBI working alongside our law enforcement partners is committed to keeping North Carolina families safe by targeting those offenders whose criminal activities threaten the safety and stability of our communities,” said FBI’s Special Agent in Charge Strong.

“The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and our partner agencies will continue to be diligent in letting criminals know that these neighborhoods are not a safe haven for their illegal activity,” said Chief Monroe, CMPD. The charges contained in these indictments are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The investigation is being handled by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, of which CMPD is a partner member. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dana Washington of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.