A Hickory man will spend 15 to 18 years in prison following his conviction for two counts of trafficking by possession and another count of attempted trafficking by possession during Catawba County Superior Court on Monday, June 8, 2026.
The Honorable Sherri W. Elliott, Superior Court Judge from Catawba County, imposed terms of the active sentence after 36-year-old Xavier Marquis Lee Winston entered guilty pleas to trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine, and attempted trafficking of methamphetamine. She also assessed mandatory fines totaling $150,000.
The defendant will serve his period of incarceration in custody of the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections.
On December 30, 2024, a traffic stop for driving while license revoked was made by officers with Hickory Police Department following a controlled buy from and surveillance of Winston.
A K-9 unit alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. A search led to the recovery of trafficking amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
The defendant was found with methamphetamine on his body and in his laundry hamper during execution of a search warrant at his hotel room on February 28, 2025.
Dylan Cassidy handled the investigation for Hickory Police Department. Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Greer prosecuted the matter for the State with aid from Legal Assistant Stacey London.