He took a plea in November for engaging in a conspiracy to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine.
Lynch’s arrest came last July when the Department of Homeland Security arranged a delivery of 7 kilograms of cocaine at a truck stop off of Interstate 85 in Vance County.
Lynch drove a tow truck from his wrecker service business to the truck stop and met with agents.
Agents arrested him after he took possession of the 7 kilograms. They seized $100,000 from Lynch, which he brought to by the cocaine.
Agents seized another $18,450 and two firearms from his home.
The United States Attorney’s Office said in a statement Lynch was the target of a long-term investigation conducted by several federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
Those agencies included the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, the United States Marshal Service, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.
“Mr. Lynch has been a target of law enforcement agencies in this area and we are thankful for his federal prosecution in this matter. We continue to vigorously take drug situations case by case to the federal level,” Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp said this evening.
The attorney’s office said agents determined during the investigation, which included interviews of Lynch’s previous co-conspirators, he was responsible for distributing 273 kilograms of cocaine since 1991.
Judge Howard also ordered Lynch to forfeit the two firearms seized from his residence and $500,000, representing the gross proceeds of the conspiracy. He satisfied the forfeiture order prior to sentencing by consenting to the forfeiture of the $100,000 seized upon his arrest and the $18,450 seized from his residence.
Lynch satisfied the remaining $381,550 by selling his salvage yard business located in Hollister. The federal prosecution was handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney Glenn Perry.
