Home Local News Meth by mail: One defendant federally indicted, other takes plea

Meth by mail: One defendant federally indicted, other takes plea

Michelle McRae, left, had her local charges dropped and has been federally indicted for possession with intent to sell methamphetamine. Kenyada Spencer pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine and was given probation.

ROCKINGHAM — Two people charged in an August methamphetamine bust recently had their day in court. One is going back.

According to Richmond County Court records, local charges against 39-year-old Michelle Denise McRae were dropped — but she was federally indicted.

The indictment, filed Oct. 28, alleges that, on or about Aug. 19, McRae “knowingly and intentionally did unlawfully possess with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine …”

According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, deputies, U.S. postal inspectors and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security intercepted a package going to McRae’s Glenmore Drive home.

According to court documents, McRae and 19-year-old Kenyada Rakel Spencer, of the same address, were in possession of 8,624 grams — or 18.2 pounds — of meth with a street value of $816,480.

Law enforcement never specified whether the meth was produced domestically or by a Mexican drug cartel.

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They were both arrested and charged with one count each of trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine and possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance.

Spencer pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine and received a 24-month suspended sentence, according to court records.

The date of McRae’s federal court appearance is not yet known.

All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Spencer is already on probation, serving a 24-month suspended sentence following a September 2018 conviction of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, according to records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction.

More than 60 people have been convicted in federal court on meth cases stemming from Richmond County since 2014. 

 



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Managing Editor William R. Toler is an award-winning writer and photographer with experience in print, television and online media.