Polkton chief on cocaine-dealing suspects: ‘Cancer on this community'

POLKTON, N.C. — A major FBI investigation involving cocaine and methamphetamines has hit the small town of Polkton.

Authorities arrested three men who are accused of buying and selling drugs at an office just feet from the Polkton police station and a neighboring church.

A criminal complaint released Wednesday reveals that the FBI started investigating Cliff Martin, Michael Faulkenberry and Timothy Bowens in 2015 after a confidential source came forward about the alleged drug deals.

[READ: Criminal complaint against Martin, Faulkenberry and Bowens]

Martin is a well known because of his real estate business in Polkton, and the FBI said he is also the mastermind behind the major drug ring in Anson County.

Most of the business occurred at 15 West Polk Street, which is Martin's business office, according to court documents.

The confidential source told agents that Martin was a kilogram-level dealer and Faulkenberry was his runner. Agents said they tried to arrest Martin in 2015 but their case didn't go anywhere.

(Cliff Martin, Michael Faulkenberry, Timothy Bowens)

But this past summer, agents persuaded a judge to allow them to wiretap Martin's phones. Court documents showed that they recorded numerous transactions where Martin allegedly bought and sold cocaine.

One text message between Martin and Bowens said, "Can you bring me one of those cakes?" which agents interpreted to mean that Martin ordered cocaine from Bowens.

Polkton Police Chief Matthew Norris said Martin and Faulkenberry have been known to officers for some time.

“Cliff and Michael have been a cancer on this community for a number of years and it’s about time they got a dose of their own medicine,” Norris said.

The three men are charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute Schedule I and II substances and possession with the intent to distribute Schedule I and II controlled substances.

All three suspects have been ordered to be held without bond, but will get a chance to ask for release from jail Monday. They each face 10 years to life in prison and fines in excess of $10 million.

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