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RALEIGH – Michael Tremayne Smith, a 40-year-old resident of Sugarland, Texas, has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for burglary of a pharmacy, aiding and abetting, and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of Oxycodone.

Smith pled guilty on March 11.

According to the court documents and other information presented in court, Drugco Discount Pharmacy near Littleton (Lake Gaston area) was burglarized on January 28, 2022. Security footage showed two people jump through the drive-thru window into the area behind the pharmacy counter. Both burglars were wearing hooded sweatshirts, gloves, and masks and were carrying large bags. They quickly grabbed numerous bottles of prescription medication, threw them into the bags, and ran out.

The stolen drugs were worth $5,786.

Later that morning, a Franklin County Sheriff’s deputy stopped Smith driving south on I-85. Inside his car were 15 unopened pill bottles labeled Oxycodone, 12 opened pill bottles labeled Oxycodone, and two bottles of liquid labeled promethazine, which matched substances taken during the burglary of Drugco Discount Pharmacy.

Smith’s passenger, LaCarlton Lee Johnson, Jr., was also charged. He pled guilty and was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment.

Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge James C. Dever III.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci prosecuted the case.