WHITEVILLE, N.C. (WECT) – District Attorney Jon David on Oct. 25 shared details about two drug-related convictions in Columbus County Superior Court.

Banks Raphel Batton, a 37-year-old from Tabor City, was sentenced to 35-51 months in prison and a $50,000 fine for two counts of trafficking cocaine and other offenses from incidents in 2021 and 2022. They were both from search warrants at his home, according to the DA, and detectives found guns, cash, digital scales, marijuana and a money-counting machine.

Phillip Ruffin from New York pled guilty to trafficking opioids in the same week and was sentenced to 70-93 months in prison along with a $50,000 fine. Him and his brother were both stopped with suspended tags by the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office back in August of 2023. The DA’s office says that the had 15 grams worth of oxycodone pills in his pants. His brother later pled guilty as well earlier this year.

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