Career Offender and Meth Trafficker Sentenced To 15 Years in Prison

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced today that Samantha Marie Vono, 34, of Hickory, N.C., was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by five years under court supervision for trafficking methamphetamine. Vono was classified as a Career Offender as a result of multiple prior drug trafficking convictions for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it to others.

Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Charlotte District Office, and Sheriff Donald G. Brown II of the Catawba County Sheriff's Office, join U.S. Attorney King in making today's announcement.

According to court documents and today's proceedings, in December 2021, law enforcement officers were conducting a drug investigation in Catawba County. During the investigation, they identified Vono as a local distributor of methamphetamine. The investigation determined that Vono would travel to Charlotte to meet with a narcotics source of supply, and then travel back to Catawba County where she distributed narcotics to other local sellers. Court records show that, on January 25, 2022, officers followed Vono as she travelled to Charlotte. Officers observed Vono meet her supply source at an apartment complex and then travel back to Catawba County. Officers conducted a traffic stop of Vono's vehicle for a traffic violation and Vono's multiple outstanding warrants. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement located 160 grams of methamphetamine inside the vehicle.

According to court records, while Vono was released on bond pending sentencing, and confined to her apartment on home detention with electronic monitoring, Vono set up a robbery in her apartment with three other co-conspirators where a victim was shot. Two of Vono's young children were home at the time of the robbery turned shooting. After the incident, court records show that Vono was encountered by the police while attempting to clean up the bloody crime scene. Later, Vono also attempted to obstruct the police investigation.

On June 14, 2023, Vono pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. She is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

U.S. Attorney King thanked the DEA and the Catawba County Sheriff's Office for their investigation of the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Kent of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

The DEA encourages parents, along with their children, to educate themselves about the dangers of legal and illegal drugs by visiting DEA's interactive websites at www.JustThinkTwice.comLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the DEA website when you click the link., www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.comLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the DEA website when you click the link., www.CampusDrugPrevention.gov, and www.dea.gov. Also follow DEA Atlanta via Twitter at @DEAATLANTADivLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the DEA website when you click the link..

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