A Carthage man has been sentenced to a combined minimum of 210 months in prison after convictions on multiple cocaine-related charges.
Judge Stephen Stokes sentenced Phillip Covington to 175 to 222 months, followed consecutively by 35 to 51 months, for trafficking cocaine, possession with intent to sell, and other related offenses.
According to Mike Hardin, the investigation began in July 2023 when narcotics detectives from the Moore County Sheriff’s Office and the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation probed Covington for suspected cocaine trafficking.
Covington faced multiple charges, including trafficking cocaine, selling and delivering cocaine, maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances, possession of a firearm by a felon, and several misdemeanors, based on a controlled drug buy and two search warrants at his residence.
Initially pleading not guilty, Covington went to trial on charges linked to a Nov. 21, 2023, search warrant that recovered over two kilograms of cocaine. A Moore County jury found him guilty on Feb. 9 of trafficking cocaine, possession with intent to sell and deliver, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He later pled guilty to remaining charges, including four counts of trafficking cocaine, two counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver, two counts of maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Hardin commended the dedication of the Moore County Sheriff’s Office, the SBI, and the citizens who served as jurors in achieving the convictions.
