WILMINGTON - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court yesterday Senior United States District Judge James C. Fox sentenced CURTIS VARN MOTLEY, JR., 36, of Milwaukee, North Carolina, to 300 months' imprisonment and five years supervised release following his term of confinement.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on August 8, 2007.On November 14, 2008, MOTLEY pled guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack) and more than 500 grams of cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

On February 4, 2005, information was received that MOTLEY, and his co-conspirator, Corey Levon Joyner, were to bring several kilos of cocaine back to a residence located in Conway, North Carolina, to cook into crack. That same day, a state search warrant was obtained to search the residence. As the officers approached the residence, several persons fled the house, including MOTLEY and Joyner. Joyner was arrested, MOTLEY escaped. During the search of the residence, officers seized drug paraphernalia and a small amount of cocaine and crack. As officers searched the woods looking for MOTLEY, they discovered several plastic bags containing approximately 190 grams of cocaine base along the path which it was believed MOTLEY traveled.

On February 7, 2005, a search warrant was obtained to search MOTLEY's residence. A safe in a spare bedroom was discovered and upon forcefully opening it, officers seized plastic bags containing 507 grams of cocaine, 4 handguns, $14,000, and various documents containing MOTLEY's name.

Joyner was sentenced on March 25, 2008.

"The 300-month sentence Mr. Motley received was well-deserved. A significant amount of drugs and guns have now been taken off the street. In order to make our streets safe, my office will continue to prosecute these types of cases, seeking lengthy sentences," commented Mr. Holding.

This case is part of an Eastforce case entitled, Slow Burn, in which eight individuals have been prosecuted on drug and gun charges.

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hertford County Sheriff's Office and the North Hampton Sheriff's Office. Assistant United States Attorney Ethan Ontjes served as prosecutor for the government.