CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WHKY) – Steven Tyler Philbeck, a 35-year-old armed drug distributor who sold methamphetamine and fentanyl in Catawba County, has been sentenced to 141 months in federal prison.

According to federal prosecutors, law enforcement began investigating Philbeck in January 2025. A cooperating individual made multiple purchases of methamphetamine and fentanyl from Philbeck, with most of the transactions occurring at or near a hotel in Hickory. Prosecutors say Philbeck was armed during most of the encounters.

On February 26, investigators stopped Philbeck after observing him at a Hickory hotel and storage unit. A search of his vehicle uncovered 43 grams of methamphetamine, a Glock pistol, a loaded magazine, a 12-gauge shotgun and more than 9-thousand-350 dollars in cash.

Additional drugs, firearms, packaging materials and drug paraphernalia were seized from his hotel room and storage unit. Philbeck pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine and will also serve five years of supervised release. The investigation was led by the Hickory Police Department as part of the Catawba Valley Crime Task Force.