UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
GRETCHEN C.F. SHAPPERT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2008

CONTACT: SUELLEN PIERCE
704.338.3120
FAX 704.227.0264

ALEXANDER COUNTY DRUG DEFENDANT CONVICTED BY FEDERAL JURY Taylorsville, NC Drug Conspiracy Defendants Awaiting Sentencing STATESVILLE, NC - A federal jury in the Western District of North Carolina, Statesville Division, convicted Timmy Lee McAlpin, 37, of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, and of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine following a trial in Statesville which ended on Thursday, January 24, 2008. The guilty verdict concluded a drug trafficking investigation which led to the indictment of five individuals on federal drug and firearms violations in 2007. The federal indictment included charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base, commonly known as crack cocaine, and cocaine.

McAlpin’s co-defendants were charged with additional counts of possession with intent to distribute illegal drugs and with violations of the federal firearms laws. U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert, who tried the case before the Honorable Richard L. Voorhees in U.S. District Court, made the announcement today. Joining U.S. Attorney Shappert in making today’s announcement are Sheriff Hayden Bentley of Alexander County, Zebedee Graham, Special Agent in Charge of ATF operations in North and South Carolina, and Director Robin Pendergraft of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation on behalf of the Northwest District SBI Office.

The federal indictment charging Timmy Lee McAlpin, along with four other individuals was filed in 2007 in United States District Court. To date all five defendants have been either convicted at trial or have entered pleas of guilty. The charges represent the results of an eightmonth-long investigation focused on a group operating out of Taylorsville, North Carolina. The indictment alleged that all five defendants were members of a conspiracy that went on from about January of 2005 through March of 2007, in Alexander County, and Catawba County within the Western District of North Carolina. The indictment also alleged possession with the intent to distribute both crack cocaine and powder cocaine in five additional single counts along with several individual counts alleging violations of the federal firearms laws.

According to the evidence presented at last week’s trial of McAlpin, members of the conspiracy operated a cocaine and crack cocaine distribution network which included operations in Alexander and Catawba Counties. Witnesses described large-scale trafficking, including the distribution over the course of the conspiracy of kilograms of cocaine. Members of the conspiracy were all living in the Taylorsville area of Alexander County during the course of the conspiracy.

Law enforcement officers who testified at trial described a network that operated at least from January 2005 to the time of the filing of the indictment in and around Alexander and Catawba Counties. According to trial testimony and official court documents, in excess of 20 illegal firearms were seized by law enforcement as a result of the investigation United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert, who prosecuted the case at trial, commended the work of the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office for their leadership and initiative in the investigation.

Following Thursday’s conviction, U.S. District Judge Richard L. Voorhees announced that sentencing for McAlpin, who was convicted last week, along with his four co-defendants, would take place later in 2008. Each of the defendants was convicted on the drug conspiracy count. Each defendant is facing significant time in federal prison as a result of his or her conviction on that count alone. All of the defendants have been in federal custody since early 2007 when they were arrested on the charges contained in the indictment.

A list of the defendants and their current status follows.
United States v. Parsons, et al
Docket Number:5:07CR8-V
JAMES MATTHEW PARSONS
aka “Purdy”, aka “Pretty”
Age: 31
Last known residence: Taylorsville, NC
Status: Awaiting sentencing

EVERADO LEON
Age: 29
Last known residence: Taylorsville, NC
Status: Awaiting sentencing
TIMMY LEE McALPIN
Age: 37
Last known residence: Taylorsville, NC
Status: Awaiting sentencing

ROBERTO SOTO-MARTINEZ
Age: 20
Last known residence: Taylorsville, NC
Status: Awaiting sentencing

MARCILINO MIQUEL DIAZ
aka “Marcilino Diaz,” aka “Marcelina Miquel Diaz”
Age: unknown at time of press release publication
Last known residence: Taylorsville, NC
Status: Awaiting sentencing