North Carolina man sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking

STATESVILLE, N.C. – A 65-year-old man from Hiddenite, N.C., was sentenced in federal court June 6 to 10 years in federal prison and eight years of supervised release, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

According to official court documents and proceedings, in February 2011 law enforcement officers seized more than 400 pounds of marijuana from Gary Richard Lackey's residence and his business. Specifically, the officers seized from Lackey's residence approximately six pounds of marijuana, Ziploc baggies, digital scales, two Smith & Wesson .38-caliber special revolvers, and eight long-arm firearms. The officers recovered more than 400 pounds of marijuana and ammunition for the firearms from Lackey's business. In September 2011, Lackey pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana. He was charged in a criminal bill of information filed Sept. 16, 2011.

Lackey has been in local federal custody since February 2011. He will be transferred into the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

The investigation was led by HSI with the assistance of the Iredell County Sheriff's Office and the Alexander County Sheriff's Office.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected weapons and narcotics smuggling and related information by calling at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. For more information, visit www.ice.gov.