21 charged following 16 month-long undercover drug operation in Lincoln County

LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. — 21 people were charged Monday following a 16 month-long undercover drug operation by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

During the operation, which targeted street-level dealers, investigators said they seized methamphetamine, heroin, opioids and marijuana. They also said two firearms were taken from convicted felons.

The operation resulted in 64 drug charges, ranging from possession with intent to sell and deliver to sale, deliver and trafficking in narcotics.

Narcotics officers said they received a number of tips on the Drug Tip Line at 704-736-8606 and complaints from citizens to help identify the street level dealers.

The following is a list of people charged in the operation:

• Teresa Leann Riffle, 36, of Rosehill Drive, Lincolnton, NC charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Tiffany Goins Curtis, 45, of Hephzibah Church Road, Crouse, NC is charged with possession of methamphetamine.
• Tina Maria Goodwin, 50, of Fairview School Road, Vale, NC charged with possession of methamphetamine.
• Eric Theodore Flynn, 48, of Newton, NC charged with possession of methamphetamine
• Melissa Dawn Campbell, 37, of Charleston Trail, Cherryille, NC is charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and possession of methamphetamine.
• Colby Ray Williams, 36, of Flay Road, Lincolnton, NC is charged with possession of methamphetamine.
• Lisa Shawntae Black, 44, of Confederate Road, Lincolnton, NC is charged with possession of methamphetamine.
• Daniel Steven Helms, 21, of North Drive, Cherryville, NC is charged with possession of heroin
• Joseph William Clippard, 47, of Laboratory Road, Lincolnton, NC is charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Patrick Tyler Blackwell, 23, Charlotte, NC is charged with possession of methamphetamine
• Chelsea Leigh Allen, 30, of Kidville Road, Denver, NC is charged with possession of methamphetamine
• Joseph Lee Waters, 39, of Dallas, NC is charged with possession of LSD and possession of a firearm by a felon.
• Bryan Thomas Bailey, 49, no available address, is charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana.
• Michael Welborn, 47, of Kings Mountain, NC is charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver methamphetamine, possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Clarence Riffle, 41, of Rosehill Drive, Lincolnton, NC is charged with possession of methamphetamine
• Megan Renee Pilkington, 27, of Lincolnton, NC is charged with possession of heroin
• Craig Gerard Kempinski, 48, of Lincolnton, NC is charged with three separate offenses. An incident on January 14, 2020 led to charges of trafficking by possession, by sale and by delivery, maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance, and possession with intent to sell and deliver Xanax and sell and delivery of Xanax On February 14, 2020 Kempinski was charged with trafficking by possession, by sale and by delivery, maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance. And on March 13, 2020 he was charged with maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance and trafficking.
• Brandi Nichole Hardin, 34, of Stanley, NC was indicted on four separate offenses. The first occurred on September 16, 2019 and the second on September 20, 2019. She was indicted on two counts each of possession with intent to sell and deliver oxycodone, sell and deliver oxycodone, and maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance. She was also indicted in connection with an incident on October 11, 2019 for trafficking by transportation and by possession and trafficking by sell and by delivery. She was also charged with maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance. She was also indicted on a separate September 2019 incident that involved sell and delivery of oxycodone, possession with intent to sell and deliver oxycodone and maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance.
• Fred Christian Smith, 44, of Iron Station, NC is charged in two separate incidents. On June 10, 2019 and June 28, 2019 Smith is accused of selling meth to an undercover officer. He is charged with two felony counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver methamphetamine and sell and delivery of methamphetamine.
• Jason Todd Mullen, 34, of Maiden, NC was indicted on charges of possession with intent to sell and deliver methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a felon.
• David Nixon, Jr. 58, of McClain Trail, Lincolnton, NC is charged with sell and deliver crack cocaine.

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