For his fentanyl trafficking days in June 2023, a Morganton man was sentenced to 17 years in prison on Thursday.
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina Dena J. King made the announcement on Thursday, June 13.
Joseph Paul Mosteller, 42, of Morganton will also serve three years of supervised release. He remains in federal custody and will be transported to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Burke County Sheriff Robert “Banks” Hinceman, with other agencies, headed the investigation of his crimes in Burke and Catawba counties in June 2023.
King thanked the sheriff’s office and the following agencies for their investigation of the case:
U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives
Charlotte Field Divison
Director of the N.C. SBI
Catawba County Sheriff’s Office
Hickory Police Department
Trafficking and arrest
On June 2, 2023, authorities were surveillancing Mosteller, and another individual carrying a shoebox, walking to his vehicle. They were in the parking lot of a Hickory hotel and authorities unsuccessfully attempted to arrest him before he drove away.
Law enforcement arrested the other individual and discovered methamphetamine in the shoebox. The person told authorities that Mosteller received the methamphetamine the day before.
Later on June 22, authorities arrived at Mosteller’s Morganton residence and observed him entering a parked vehicle in the driveaway. They believed he had received methamphetamine.
Authorities attempted a traffic stop, but he drove off at high speeds. After traveling several miles, he collided with an embankment where he was arrested.
Authorities seized a paper bag from the vehicle, containing multiple packaged controlled substances that included fentanyl.
After obtaining a search warrant that day, law enforcement returned to the residence and found more fentanyl for distribution and digital scales.
Saydie Bean is a general assignment reporter for The Paper. She may be reached at 828-445-8595, ext. 2011 or via email at saydie@thepaper.media.
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