A drug investigation has led to charges against an Iron Station man accused of trafficking nearly 18 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $580,000. Robbie Leon McCall was arrested after a traffic stop and a subsequent search of his home turned up cocaine, marijuana and two handguns.
The case began with an investigation into suspected drug activity involving McCall. That investigation led to a traffic stop in which authorities seized approximately 5 kilos of cocaine and arrested McCall, per the same account.
Investigators didn't stop there. They went on to execute a search warrant at McCall's home in Iron Station, where they seized roughly 3 additional kilos of cocaine, 4 pounds of marijuana and two handguns, the post states. In total, the account describes approximately 8 kilos — almost 18 pounds — of cocaine on September 15.
Charges Stack Up Against McCall
The charges listed for McCall include multiple counts of trafficking cocaine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. The case does not provide his custody or bond status.
The trafficking charges carry serious weight under state law. Under North Carolina General Statutes, trafficking 400 grams or more of cocaine is classified as a Class D felony carrying a mandatory minimum active prison sentence of 175 months — roughly 14.5 years — up to 222 months, along with a mandatory fine of at least $250,000, according to the Powers Law Firm. At 8 kilograms, McCall's alleged haul is about 20 times that statutory threshold. Notably, prosecutors don't need to prove intent to sell or distribute to secure a trafficking conviction — under state law, cocaine trafficking charges hinge strictly on the total weight involved, as the Manning Law Firm explains.
Federal court records show McCall pled guilty in 1991 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina to aiding and abetting a convicted felon in the unlawful receipt of a firearm, and was sentenced to 21 months in prison, according to Justia Law. The article also discusses the firearm-possession charge and that prior conviction. Under North Carolina's Felony Firearms Act, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon is normally a Class G felony, though 2025 statutory revisions elevate the offense to higher felony classes when it's committed alongside underlying drug felonies, per the UNC School of Government.
A Cross-County Operation Near the Gaston Line
Iron Station is an unincorporated community of roughly 825 residents in Lincoln County, about 7 miles southeast of Lincolnton. The case involved law enforcement in the area.
This isn't the only recent case of local agencies chasing bulk narcotics tied to firearms. The article also references another case.
Part of a Broader Pattern in the Region
The Iron Station bust also echoes other recent seizures around Gaston and Lincoln counties. The article also references other cases.
The article also discusses another drug case. Taken together, the article describes drug-interdiction activity, with McCall's arrest marking another chapter in a string of large-scale busts.
