One of the suspects arrested in a 2019 felony sweep in Columbus County pleaded guilty Friday in Superior Court.
Joshua Vereen entered a plea of guilty to charges of being a habitual felon and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to 117 to 153 months in prison, or nine to twelve years behind bars. Judge Tiffany Powers handed down the sentence.
District attorney Jon David said in a press release that Vereen was picked up during Operation Carnivore, a multi-agency drug and warrant sweep in 2019.
“The defendant was captured on video brandishing a black Glock handgun and extended magazine full of ammunition,” David said. The prosecutor said that he is “grateful for the efforts of our law enforcement partners who created the moment where the defendant was held accountable for his decade long history of criminal conduct.”
Vereen, of 224 Ridgeland Acres, Tabor City, was originally charged with maintaining a vehicle for drug activities, trafficking in opiates, sale and delivery of cocaine, possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver opiates, and other charges. His bond was set at $1.060 million.
