A Granite Falls man will serve seven to 10 years in prison following his conviction for trafficking fentanyl by possession during Caldwell County Superior Court on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.
The Honorable Gary Gavenus, Superior Court Judge from Yancey County, imposed terms of the active sentence for Patrick Lowell Wallace after he entered a guilty plea.
Wallace also will be required to pay a mandatory fine of $750,000.
The defendant will serve his period of incarceration in custody of the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections.
Deputies from the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office went to Wallace’s residence to serve a warrant for his arrest on July 15, 2025. As they arrived, the defendant pulled into the driveway.
When he stepped out of his vehicle, a package fell from his lap and was seized by deputies. It contained a trafficking amount of suspected fentanyl. Testing by the State Crime Lab confirmed the substance to be fentanyl.
Investigation was handled by the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Assistant District Attorney Mitch Walker prosecuted the case for the State.