A plea agreement has apparently been struck in the Calvin Colweth “Spoke” Garner Jr. case, according to federal court records.
The agreement was apparently struck today but records of the arrangement were not immediately available this afternoon.
A press release on the matter is not expected to go out immediately, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in an email to rrspin.com.
Garner, a Roanoke Rapids man said by law enforcement sources to reputedly be one of the area’s largest drug dealers, was scheduled for arraignment today, according to court records.
The 35-year-old Garner has been in federal custody since his arrest in September.
His case was continued several times and the last motion for continuance stated, “The indictment charges a drug conspiracy as well as several financial crimes. The investigation has resulted in approximately three boxes of financial records that Myron T. Hill Jr. (Garner’s attorney) needs to review.”
Garner, who admitted to rrspin.com in 2009 he solicited money to help get Tavarus “Tater” Ivey out of jail after he was charged with killing Corey “Biscuit” Graham in 2009, was indicted for the following charges:
Count 1 — Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine and 5 kilograms or more of powdered cocaine.
Count 2 — Conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Count 3 — Aiding and abetting bank fraud.
Count 4 — Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.
Counts 5 through 7 — Aiding and abetting concealment of money laundering.
Count 8 — Concealment of money laundering.
Count 9 — Aiding and abetting concealment of money laundering.
Count 10 — Concealment of money laundering.
Count 11 — Obstruction of justice.
For the drug charges, the indictment says from about 1989 to late 2008, Garner allegedly conspired to distribute crack and powdered cocaine.
For the conspiracy to commit bank fraud charge, the indictment says from May to June of 2003, he allegedly tried to devise a scheme to defraud Chase Manhattan Bank when he applied for a loan to buy an H2 Hummer from Hendrick Chevrolet-Hummer in Cary.
In the third count, aiding and abetting bank fraud, it is alleged Garner bought the vehicle through submitting a false loan application.
In the fourth count, conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, Garner, from July to August of 2006, allegedly attempted to conduct financial transactions affecting interstate and foreign commerce.
Meanwhile, in counts five, six and seven — two counts of aiding and abetting concealment of money laundering and concealment of money laundering — Garner allegedly bought a 1994 Fleetwood Coronado Recreational Vehicle from Roland Holmes Auto Sales in Roanoke Rapids with drug money.
Counts eight and nine, concealment of money laundering, go back to July 23 of 2007 and August 24 of 2007. They involve him buying a propane stripper machine from L. Fishman & Son with alleged drug money.
The final money laundering count goes back to October 5 of 2007 for the payment of $2,500 to Mystique Management in exchange for a loan with alleged drug money.
The eleventh count, obstruction of justice, dates to October of last year when Garner allegedly, “Did knowingly and corruptly persuade another person, and attempted to do so, with the intent to influence, delay or prevent the testimony of that person, or cause or induce that person to withhold testimony, or withhold a record, document or other object in an official proceeding, specifically a federal grand jury.”
The indictment says Garner allegedly did so to, “Hinder, delay and prevent the communication to a law enforcement officer of information relating to the commission or possible commission of a federal offense ...”
