Federal Judge Sentences To Prison Eight Men Involved In Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad, Jr. today sentenced eight men convicted of drug trafficking charges to prison terms ranging from 12 to 110 months, announced Jill Westmoreland Rose, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. 

U.S. Attorney Rose 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 Kerr Putney, of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD).

The nine defendants sentenced today are:

• Noel Rondell Alexander, a/k/a “Floyd,” 26, of Charlotte – sentenced to 16 months followed by 3 years of supervised release.

• Akanni Butler, a/k/a “KB,” 30, of Charlotte – sentenced to 110 months followed by 3 years of supervised release.

• Anthony Carter, a/k/a “Sanchez,” 27, of Charlotte – sentenced to 24 months followed by 3 years of supervised release.

• Isaac Hampton, a/k/a “Ike,” 27, of Charlotte – sentenced to 12 months followed by 3 years of supervised release.

• William Kee, III, 21, of Charlotte – sentenced to 24 months followed by 3 years of supervised release.

• Rodney Smith, a/k/a “Man,” 23, of Charlotte – sentenced to 33 months followed by 3 years of supervised release.

• Antonio Sullivan, a/k/a “Pooh,” 37, of Charlotte – sentenced to 52 months followed by 3 years of supervised release.

• Vincent Thompson, 33, of Charlotte – sentenced to 12 months followed by 3 years of supervised release.

According to today’s sentencing hearings and court documents filed in the case, from about May 2014 to February 2015, the defendants were involved in a drug trafficking conspiracy.  Court records show that the defendants were all part of an open-air drug market that formed in, and operated around, the area of Beatties Ford Road and Catherine Simmons Avenue in Charlotte.  According to court records, the defendants carried out their illegal drug trading mainly out of the parking lots for two small strip shopping centers on Beatties Ford Road or in several other locations on Catherine Simmons Avenue, which intersects with Beatties Ford Road.  According to court records, the conspirators sold drugs, mostly “crack” cocaine, all hours of the day and night and frequently engaged in acts of violence, greatly impacting the residents and business owners in this community.

Over the course of today’s sentencing hearings, Judge Conrad noted that all of the residents of that community suffered as a result of these ongoing drug sales.

The investigation was 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.