North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Division (ALE) and Lenior Police Department (LPD) concluded an investigation, resulting in multiple criminal charges at an ABC permitted establishment in Lenoir, NC.
On Monday, April 8, 2024, the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Division (ALE), LPD and Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search warrant at Save N More, located at 429 Harper Avenue, Lenoir, NC. This collaborative operation resulted in two store owners, one employee and seven patrons being criminally charged.
As a result of the investigation, there was a total of 26 charges, which includes four felonies, failure to superintend, gambling law violations, conspiracy to sell/deliver cocaine, weapons law violations, sell/deliver drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct, and various alcohol charges.
In addition to the criminal charges, a violation report will be submitted to the NC ABC Commission, which may result in fines, suspensions, or revocations of ABC permits.
The following individuals have been charged:
Krunal Sureshbhai Patel, 42, of Hickory, N.C. (owner), was charged with failure to superintend an ABC-licensed premises, operate/possess slot machine, manufacture/sell slot machine and gambling. (Warrant for arrest NOT served at this time).
Ketki Krunal Patel, 36, of Hickory, N.C. (owner), was charged with failure to superintend an ABC-licensed premises.
Harpal Singh, 38, of Lenoir, N.C. (employee), was charged with allowing conduct of sale/deliver drug paraphernalia, gambling and operate video gaming machine on an ABC-licensed premises, operate video gaming machine, misdemeanor sale/deliver drug paraphernalia, allowing conduct of consuming malt beverage and fighting/disorderly conduct on an ABC-licensed premises.
Benny Lee Mahan, 58, of Lenoir, N.C., was charged with consuming malt beverage on a premises having only off-premises ABC permits.
Varian Denzel Harshaw, 30, of Lenoir, N.C., was charged with disorderly conduct.
Saul Tapia Cervantes, 54, of Lenoir, N.C., was charged with disorderly conduct and carrying a concealed weapon.
Johnny Lee Moss, 44, of Lenoir, N.C., was charged with misdemeanor going armed to the terror of people and disorderly conduct.
Gregory Elam Mode, 51, of Lenoir, N.C., was charged with consuming malt beverage/unfortified wine on a premises having only off-premises ABC permits. (Misdemeanor Criminal Summons NOT served at this time).
Joshua Lee Banner, 37, of Lenoir, N.C., was charged with felony conspire to sell/deliver cocaine and felony maintain a vehicle/dwelling/place for keeping/selling a controlled substance.
Lester Caddell Little, 52, of Lenoir, N.C., was charged with felony possess with the intent to sell/deliver cocaine and felony conspire to sell/deliver cocaine.
About ALE:
ALE’s 111 specially trained agents have the authority to arrest and take investigatory action throughout North Carolina. Their primary responsibility is the enforcement of Alcoholic Beverage Control, tobacco, state lottery and gambling laws.
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