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A Goldsboro man was sentenced May 25, 2022 to 180 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of North Carolina.

According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, Robert Lee Best, 61, was named in an indictment filed on March 12, 2020 charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine from 2018 to March 12, 2020 (Count One) and distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting (Count Two). Best entered a plea of guilty to Count Two on November 10, 2020.

According to the press release, on May of 2018, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Goldsboro and the Winston-Salem Police Departments received information that Best was part of a large-scale drug trafficking organization operating in Goldsboro, which distributed large quantities of crystal methamphetamine and maintained several “trap houses” or “stash houses” in Goldsboro and employed runners – oftentimes drug users – to hand deliver drugs.

“Based upon the investigation law enforcement learned that Best had known the leaders of this organization for 20 years and worked in ‘the hole,’ or ‘trap house’ located on Slaughter Street where he distributed drugs for them,” stated the release. “Best worked 12-hour shifts in the trap house selling narcotics for the organization. During these 12-hour shifts, two people worked each shift, an inside man and an outside man. The inside man answered the phone and prepared the drug orders. The outside man made deliveries to the customers and served as a ‘lookout.’ At the end of each shift, Best was responsible for delivering proceeds from the drug sales to a drop location.”

According to the release, Best was responsible for assisting in the distribution of 14,560 grams of cocaine and 1,507.7 grams of methamphetamine over the course of the conspiracy.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Goldsboro Police Department and the Winston-Salem Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci prosecuted.

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