41-year-old Dwayne Bullock of Newton entered a guilty plea last month in McDowell County Superior Court to conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine, 400 grams or more, and operating a criminal enterprise. According to information released earlier this week by the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, the guilty plea was entered on March 6. Superior Court Judge J. Thomas Davis sentenced Bullock to an active prison term of 225 to 282 months or 18 years, nine months to 23 years, six months.

In 2017, Detectives with the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, Marion Police Department and Agents with North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation began investgating suspected drug distribution activities. Authorities believed the drug ring involved Bullock and his associates.

The investigation concluded on April 18, 2018, with the execution of multiple search warrants in three different counties where detectives seized more than 20 pounds of meth, four ounces of fentanyl and approximately $500,000 cash.

According to the North Carolina Department Of Adult Correction Offender Public Information website, Bullock has multiple prior convictions between 1999 and 2003, all in Burke County. He was previously convicted of charges including larceny, common law robbery, forgery, and breaking and entering to vehicles. One defendant connected to this drug operation still faces an upcoming court date.

The investigation was a multi-jurisdictional effort of the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, Marion Police Department, NC State Bureau of Investigation, McDowell County District Attorney’s Office, Burke County Sheriff’s Office, Morganton Department of Public Safety, Newton Police Department, NC State Highway Patrol, US Postal Service, US Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.