A Greensboro, North Carolina man received a 10-year prison sentence in Winston-Salem after pleading guilty to drug distribution charges, according to a statement from Acting United States Attorney Randall S. Galyon of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).
The individual, identified as Michael Humberto Gutierrez, aged 31, was sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Loretta C. Biggs to 120 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. The court also ordered Gutierrez to forfeit several firearms, including a Glock 9mm handgun and a Romarm AK-style rifle.
Court records indicate that Gutierrez was affiliated with a California-based drug trafficking organization. He was responsible for distributing methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine in North Carolina from December 2023 through February 2024. During this period, he coordinated narcotics shipments from California to Greensboro. Unknowingly, he was in communication with an undercover agent regarding drug and firearm sales.
In January 2024, a single-car accident involving Gutierrez led law enforcement to discover 980 grams of methamphetamine he had attempted to conceal. A subsequent search of his residence in February 2024 yielded additional drugs and numerous firearms.
Gutierrez pleaded guilty on October 8, 2024, to charges involving the intent to distribute significant amounts of methamphetamine, a violation of federal drug laws.
Commenting on the issue, Acting United States Attorney Randall S. Galyon stated, “Fentanyl and methamphetamine continue to devastate communities in the Middle District of North Carolina.” He added that there is a commitment to holding distributors accountable.
Cardell T. Morant, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations Charlotte, remarked on the ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking. “This sentencing is another step forward in our ongoing mission to protect our communities from the devastating impact of drug trafficking,” he said.
The investigation was conducted by the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, Greensboro Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations. Laura Jeanne Dildine, Assistant United States Attorney for the MDNC, prosecuted the case.