Convicted Felon On Trial For Drug And Gun Charges Is Found Guilty

 CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte federal jury has convicted Marcus Isaiah Curry, 37, of Gastonia, N.C., on drug trafficking and firearms charges, announced Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. presided over the two-day trial, which ended late yesterday.

Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Travis Brittain of the City of Gastonia Police Department (GPD) join U.S. Attorney Murray in making today’s announcement.

According to filed court documents and evidence presented at trial, law enforcement determined that Curry engaged in drug trafficking in and around Gastonia, North Carolina. On March 5, 2020, FBI agents and GPD officers executed a search warrant at Curry’s residence, and seized crack cocaine, powder cocaine, various chemicals and other supplies used for cooking powder cocaine into crack cocaine, and $1,801 in drug proceeds. Law enforcement also recovered from the residence two firearms and ammunition, including an assault pistol loaded with an extended high-capacity magazine, a .45 caliber handgun capable of firing shotgun shells, and a 100-round capacity ammunition drum loaded with 76 rounds. Curry has multiple prior felony convictions and he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. According to witness testimony, in addition to engaging in drug trafficking activities, law enforcement determined that Curry was planning to intimidate a witness.

The jury convicted Curry of four counts of distribution of crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. Curry is in federal custody and faces a sentence of 10 years to life in prison.  A sentencing date has not been set.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray thanked the FBI and GPD for their investigative work on this case. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven R. Kaufman, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, is prosecuting the case.