Jason Travis Shook, a 42-year-old resident of Conover, North Carolina, has been sentenced to 17 and a half years in prison on charges related to drugs and firearms. This was announced by Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
The announcement was made in conjunction with Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Sheriff Donald G. Brown II of the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office.
Court documents reveal that in August 2022, officers from the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office discovered Shook's involvement in distributing significant quantities of methamphetamine. Surveillance operations were conducted on his property and vehicle—a black Chevrolet Suburban with an attached white boat.
On August 25, 2022, law enforcement observed Shook moving between his property and vehicle while carrying a backpack that he placed inside before driving away. When officers attempted a traffic stop due to multiple violations including driving with a revoked license, Shook fled leading to a pursuit that ended when he crashed into a wooded area near Hickory and attempted to escape on foot by jumping into Lake Hickory.
After being apprehended shortly thereafter, law enforcement recovered from his vehicle a backpack containing methamphetamine valued at $24,707 along with drug paraphernalia and two unspent shotgun shells. A Ruger semi-automatic pistol was also found along his flight path.
The DEA Mid-Atlantic Laboratory confirmed the seized substance as 368.99 grams of pure methamphetamine.
Shook pleaded guilty on August 8, 2024, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a felon. His criminal record includes felony convictions for Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury and Second-Degree Kidnapping which prohibit him from possessing firearms or ammunition.
U.S. Attorney King expressed gratitude towards the DEA and Catawba County Sheriff's Office for their investigative efforts in this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nick J. Miller, Brandon Boykin, and Regina Pack prosecuted the case from Charlotte's U.S. Attorney’s Office.