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Government gets house used in drug trafficking

A federal judge ordered the forfeiture of an East Flat Rock house that authorities said was used to sell oxycodone and other narcotics dating back to 2012.

U.S. Attorney Jill Westmoreland Rose announced on Friday that the federal court in the Western District of North Carolina had ordered final forfeiture of the property at 318 Jody Street, which prosecutors says was used for drug trafficking by Harvey Franklin Hunt, Vivian Hunt and Dorothy Hunt.

A civil complaint detailed narcotics offenses dating back to 2012. Specifically, the civil complaint alleged illegal sales of oxycodone from the property and also said that authorities had recovered large amounts of cash, digital scales, marijuana, alprazolam and methamphetamine from the house. Finally, the civil complaint alleged multiple drug convictions against Harvey Hunt, Vivian Hunt, and Dorothy Hunt.

The civil forfeiture case was stayed pending the resolution of state criminal charges against the Hunts based on the continuing drug activity. In 2016, after the Hunts were convicted in state court, the federal court lifted the stay. The United States ultimately obtained agreement from Harvey and Vivian Hunt, the owners of the Jody Street property, to their eviction from and final forfeiture of the property. The default judgment and final order entered this month by the federal court enables the United States to evict the Hunts and sell the property.

In making today’s announcement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office commended the coordination and collaborative work of the DEA, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office and the Henderson County Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Bain-Creed, of the U. S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, handled the civil proceedings.