Scam Alert

Gaston County Police reported another scam, where the scammer told the victim that he had missed a court date and could pay a “fine” of $2,000 with pre-paid cards. What makes this scam unique is that the scammer already had the victim’s social security number and used that to make the scam appear legitimate.

Kyle Franklin Goodman

CCSO arrests man in Hatcher Road case

Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigators have been actively investigating the drug transactions taking place at 130 and 132 Hatcher Road due to community drug tips.

As a result of this investigation, Kyle Franklin Goodman was arrested for felony methamphetamine charges.

Sheriff Norman said, “This shows a continued partnership between our agency and the community we serve. If you have information on drug dealers in your neighborhood, contact our investigators at 704484-4831.”

Blacksburg Meth trafficker gets 12+ years in federal prison

On Friday, February 24,

U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney sentenced Brandon Eugene Massey, 38, of Blacksburg, S.C., to 151 months in prison, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Judge Whitney also imposed five years of supervised release following incarceration.

According to filed documents and information introduced at the sentencing hearing, between 2019 and 2020, Massey was responsible for trafficking one and a half kilograms of methamphetamine, including 150 grams of ultra-high purity methamphetamine, that was seized from his co-conspira- tors. Court documents show that Massey was responsible for supplying the methamphetamine to individuals who then distributed it in Gaston and Mecklenburg Counties and elsewhere. According to court records, prior to being sentenced, Massey fled from prosecution and was arrested in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation, which to date has led to the federal prosecution of more than 60 individuals for drug trafficking. Law enforcement have also seized more than 49 kilograms of methamphetamine, 29 kilograms of fentanyl, 27 kilograms of cocaine, 3.5 kilograms of heroin, 70 firearms, more than $385,000 in cash, and over $800,000 in other property.

OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ ocdetf.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, the Gastonia Police Department, and the Huntersville Police Department for their coordination and investigation of the case.

Assistant United States Attorney Steven R. Kaufman, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.

Nicole Seigle, 50, Gastonia, Michael Drake Grant, 19, Gastonia, Harrison Bates, Richmond, VA; Nickolas Andrew Carpenter, 20, Bessemer City.

FEBRUARY: citations for driving with revoked licenses- Courtney Marie Helms, 37, 103 Tiara Drive, Demetrius Wallace, 34, Gastonia; Yasmane Qushanti Robinson, 19, S. Carpenter Street; Cristopher Tyrone Brooks, 41, Shelby; Robert William Ware Jr., 40, Bessemer City; Marlene Regina Ricaud, 23, Ellenboro; Rodney Avery Boyd, 47, 227 Walker Street; Chad Herndon, 39, Shelby; Tammy Lee Moore, 46, 827 Mountain Crest Drive; Ryan Shane Alexander, 51, 102 S. Watterson Street; James Nicholas Braun, 28; McKenneth Moor, 25, Gastonia; Miranda Jean Lipscomb, 44, 612 Charles Street 46; Jonathan Eliseo Hernandez Mezo, Kings Mountain; Olivia Sandoval, 31, 403 Phifer Drive.

FEB. 15: Kelly Kristin Strickland, 45, 127 Wiggins Lane, parking a vehicle in a fire lane.

FEB. 15: Aia Michelle Howard, 25, Shelby, expired tag, no inspection.

FEB. 15: Diane Ervin Huitt, 59, Gastonia, expired tag, no inspection.

FEB. 16: Wendi Causby Cannon, 57, 357 Cross Road, no operator’s license.

FEB. 20: Melissa Dawn Price Franklin, 48, 5422 Lennox Drive, expired tag, no inspection.

FEB. 20: David Christopher Coleman Henson, 32, Crouse, expired tag, no inspection.

FEB. 20: Joseph David Tillman, Jr., 51, Shelby, expired tag, no inspection.

FEB. 21: Yadriel Reyesavila, 31, Charlotte, speeding, careless driving, expired tag, no inspection, no vehicle insurance.

FEB. 22: Georgiana Patterson Chambers, 46, Gastonia, permitting another person to drive a vehicle without license.

FEB. 22: Tracy Bernard Mintz Jr., 29, 112 N. Cansler Street, no certificate of title, headlight violation, expired tag, no inspection.

In most cases, scammers usually give a fake name and say they are with a particular law enforcement agency when calling potential victims. In this case, the scammer just said he was with “the police department.”

GPD reminds residents that legitimate law enforcement agencies will not call individuals and demand or request money from community members for unpaid traffic citations, perceived arrest warrants, or in this case, perceived missed court dates. And they will not tell you that you can use prepaid cards, Bitcoin, or gift cards as a way of paying any fines.