Click Here

Deputies Uncover 'Elaborate' Moonshine Operation

Moonshine

Charges were pending against a Johnston County farmer after sheriff's deputies uncovered more than $5,000 in moonshine and illegal substances at his farm.

Sheriff Steve Bizzell said investigators were looking for a stolen tractor when they happened upon the smell of fermenting mash at Stony Brook Farms in Four Oaks.

Upon further investigation, they found a 500-gallon still and pipes running beneath a barn to a second barn. There, they found more than 200 jugs of moonshine.

"This was an elaborate moonshine operation," Bizzell said of the facilities they uncovered Tuesday.

In a third barn, they found 12 medium-sized marijuana plants growing and small quantities of methamphetamine and ecstasy and two handguns, they said. Investigators also found 125 $1 bills wadded inside the barn's walls.

Investigators have turned over the moonshine operation to the state Division of Alcohol Law Enforcement to investigate Rickie Wayne Norris, 52, of 7763 Strickland Crossroads Road. The North Carolina Department of Revenue was also investigating.

Deputies also arrested his son, Jeremy Wayne Norris, 21, for possessing and manufacturing drugs. He was out of jail Thursday on a $50,000 secured bond.

"Apparently, the son felt like, 'If it was OK for daddy to make liquor, it was OK for me to be involved in meth, ecstasy and growing marijuana,'" Bizzell said.

Bizzell said that, historically, many have turned a cheek to moonshine, but not him.

"A lot of people think making moonshine is OK, but my job as sheriff is to enforce the criminal laws of the state of North Carolina," he said. "And as long am I'm sheriff, I will do that."

Making and selling moonshine in North Carolina are misdemeanors. Moonshine currently sells for between $20 and $40 per gallon.



90 Comments


Golo

Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.

You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.

View Comments View Comments

Photo Spotlight
0
1
2
3
4
5
[+] more photos | submit your photos
Report It
Send us your news photos, videos, tips and story ideas.
Submit Videos Submit Photos Submit Reports
  1. 2009christmasparade
    Bands, marchers in holiday parade

    Choose your group to watch their performance in the 2009 WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas Parade.

  2. 2009christmasparade26
    Web only: Complete 2009 WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas Parade

    Watch the parade in its entirety from the comfort of your computer any time.

  3. taxes
    Search for missing IRS refunds

    The Internal Revenue Service released the names this week of more than 100,000 taxpayers who have not received their 2009 income tax refund.

  4. County Unemployment Rates
    North Carolina unemployment rates

    View an interactive map with county unemployment numbers.

  5. Drought Map
    A year of N.C. Drought Maps

    View a time lapse animation of drought conditions during the last year.

Click Here