A well-known local probation officer has been charged with four counts of trafficking cocaine after the State Bureau of Investigation said it caught the officer in a sting operation in Stanly County.
Calvin Suber Jr., 43, of 710 Spencer Ave., Spencer, was being held today in the Stanly County jail under $200,000 bond facing multiple felony drug charges.
Suber has been an employee of the N.C. Department of Corrections since 1982.
SBI agents arrested Suber and Daren Fitzgerald Bennett, 30, of 228 Winter St., shortly after 6 p.m. Wednesday night.
Bobby Bonds, acting SBI officer in charge for this area, said the arrests came after a two-week investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation, the Albemarle Police and the Stanly County Sheriff’s Department. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms also was involved.
Bonds would not go into detail about the events leading up to the arrest but characterized it as a “sting operation.”
Officers seized 15 ounces of cocaine with a street value of $200,000. Bonds said both men were arrested without incident.
In addition to trafficking, Suber is charged with conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, possession with intent to sell and deliver and maintaining a dwelling for sale of a controlled substance.
His first court appearance is set for Jan. 15 in Stanly County District Court.
The charges against Suber, all felonies involving cocaine, are two counts of trafficking by possession of cocaine; two counts of conspiracy to traffic by possession; conspiracy to traffic by transportation; possession with intent to sell and deliver; and maintain a vehicle for sale and transportation.
Bennett faces four trafficking related counts. His bond is also set at $200,000.
Suber has lived in Rowan for more than 20 years. A graduate of Livingstone College with a degree in social welfare, he previously worked at the Piedmont Correctional Center.
A spokesman for the Department of Correction said Suber began work in that department on July 20, 1982.
In his current assignment he works out of the Salisbury district office and is assigned to probation and parole as an intensive case officer.
The spokesman said in cases where an employee is charged, the Department of Correction does its own investigation.
Law enforcement agencies from Rowan and Stanly county were involved in assisting the State Bureau of Investigation’s arrests and search of properties in both counties.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s and Spencer Police departments worked together to obtain consent to search Suber’s house. The search turned up no drugs, Sheriff George Wilhelm said.
Contact Jessie Burchette at jburchette@salisburypost.com or call 704-797-4254.
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