Chad Clay, a 31-year-old Charlotte resident, has been sentenced to over 12 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges of drug distribution and illegal firearm possession. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina announced the sentencing, which totaled 151 months behind bars, as part of the ongoing effort of Project Safe Neighborhoods to address violent crime and gun violence within communities.
The case unfolded between July and October of 2022 when Clay sold fentanyl and methamphetamine to an undercover officer on multiple occasions in Charlotte. These instances of drug distribution were compounded by the illegal sale of firearms—one a stolen handgun and another a rifle equipped with high-capacity magazines. Court documents revealed that Clay's criminal history, including convictions for conspiracy to commit common law robbery and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, barred him from possessing any firearms or ammunition.
In the court on March 16, 2023, Clay entered a guilty plea to three counts of distributing fentanyl, one count of distributing methamphetamine, and one count of firearm possession by a convicted felon. He is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, awaiting transfer to a federal Bureau of Prisons' facility. His plea has set a precedent in the city's fight against the intertwining plagues of drug trafficking and gun violence.
U.S. Attorney Dena J. King, together with agents from the ATF and CMPD, has acknowledged the collective effort resulting in Clay's conviction. Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims and Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Johnny Jennings were cited as instrumental figures in the investigation. "This case is a testament to the dedication of federal, state, and local partners working together to take armed drug traffickers off the streets," King stated. The case is also a byproduct of the Department's violent crime reduction strategy launched on May 26, 2021, which seeks not only to crackdown on crime but also to foster community trust and support organizations in preventing violence.
