Marquez Jayshun-Jerome Ikard
29-year-old Marquez Jayshun-Jerome Ikard received the active sentence Wednesday (March 4) during Catawba County Superior Court. The sentence was handed down by Judge Sherri W. Elliott after Ikard entered a guilty plea to trafficking opium or heroin. He was also ordered to pay a mandatory fine of $500,000.
The case began May 10, 2024, and led investigators to execute a search warrant at Ikard’s residence on June 7 of that year. During the search, officers located numerous items, including pills later tested by the State Crime Lab and determined to be a trafficking amount of fentanyl. Authorities say Ikard (pictured) admitted the items found in the home belonged to him.
The investigation was conducted by Derek Trivett with the Conover Police Department. Assistant District Attorney Melanie Earles prosecuted the case with assistance from Legal Assistant Jordan Arney.
Story: Rob Eastwood-WHKY