Rockwell man headed for prison on numerous drug crimes

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, March 14, 2018

SALISBURY — A Rockwell man was found guilty of numerous felony drug charges Tuesday, and he will serve at least five and a half years in prison.

Michael Manuel Flake was convicted in Rowan County Criminal Superior Court of felony manufacturing methamphetamine; felony maintaining a vehicle or dwelling for trafficking in controlled substances; felony possession or distribution of a meth precursor; felony manufacturing or selling controlled substances within 1,000 feet of a school; and felony possession of methamphetamine.

Judge Lori Hamilton sentenced Flake to a minimum of 67 months to a maximum of 93 months in prison.

On Feb. 16, 2017, detectives with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office received information that Flake was manufacturing methamphetamine at his residence in Rockwell. Detectives determined that Flake had purchased pseudoephedrine about 19 times between March 5, 2016, and Feb. 15, 2017.

Detectives executed a search warrant at Flake’s residence and located several items, including off-white powder that was confirmed as methamphetamine by the N.C. State Crime Lab. Flake admitted to making meth but said it was six months ago.

Rowan County District Attorney Brandy Cook thanked Assistant District Attorney Paxton Butler and the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office for their work on the case.