United States Drug Enforcement Administration

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Rebecca Lynn Barker, 50, of Sylva, N.C., was sentenced today to 188 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release on drug conspiracy charges, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

According to filed documents and today’s sentencing hearing, between April 2019 and August 2021, federal, state, and local law enforcement determined that Barker was part of a drug conspiracy that trafficked methamphetamine in Haywood, Buncombe, and Jackson Counties as well as Georgia. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement used controlled buys, seizures, and the execution of search warrants to determine that the drug conspirators were responsible for trafficking more than 36 kilograms of methamphetamine in Western North Carolina. Law enforcement also seized thousands of dollars in drug proceeds and nine firearms. Court records show that Barker was responsible for distributing more than 230 grams of actual methamphetamine and over 3,100 grams of methamphetamine mixture. Law enforcement also seized from Barker a handgun and a shotgun, and more than $7,200 in cash.

On August 4, 2022, Barker pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine. She is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

Barker’s co-defendants were previously sentenced as follows:

Robert Allan Burnette was sentenced to 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release.

Angela Vance Carver was sentenced to 70 months in prison and five years of supervised release.

Derek Michal Cluff was sentenced to 30 months in prison and four years of supervised release.

Marcus Brandon Cobaugh was sentenced to 60 months in prison and four years of supervised release.

Lindsay Nicole Cobb was sentenced to 135 months in prison and five years of supervised release.

David Hunter Creson was sentenced to 70 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

William Joseph Craig was sentenced to 179 months in prison and ten years of supervised release.

Arthur Shane Douville, was sentenced to 188 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

Jaime Gamez, was sentenced to 151 months in prison and five years of supervised release.

Justin Caroll Gibson was sentenced to 151 months in prison and five years of supervised release.

Jane Ivison Gill was sentenced to 78 months in prison and five years of supervised release.

Roberty Illerma Ibarra was sentenced to 70 months in prison and five years of supervised release.

Elizabeth Gabrielle Mann was sentenced to 84 months in prison and four years of supervised release.

Jose Andress Martinez was sentenced to 130 months in prison and five years of supervised release.

Keith Allen McMahan was sentenced to 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release.

Nicholas Ray Miller was sentenced to 188 months in prison and five years of supervised release.

Ryan Warren Muster was sentenced to 132 months in prison and five years of supervised release.

Kelly Woodrow Ross was sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release.

Richard Anthony Swanger was sentenced to 63 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

Christy Helen Trull was sentenced to 57 months in prison and five years of supervised release.

Michael Kevin Vanlandingham was sentenced to 12 months of probation.

The investigation was led by the Western District’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), which included the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, the Buncombe County Anti-Crime Task Force, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, the Waynesville Police Department, the Canton Police Department, the Maggie Valley Police Department, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Swain County Sheriff’s Office, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their investigative efforts.

OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf.

Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Kent, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.

The DEA encourages parents, along with their children, to educate themselves about the dangers of legal and illegal drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.JustThinkTwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com, www.CampusDrugPrevention.gov, and www.dea.gov . Also follow DEA Atlanta via Twitter at @DEAATLANTADiv

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