Statesville Man Sent To Prison For Trafficking Narcotics

A Statesville man is serving a minimum prison sentence of close to six years following a guilty plea during the recent session of Iredell County Superior Court. 35-year-old Justin Lewis Ostwalt pleaded guilty to trafficking in opium or heroin and possession of a firearm by a felon and was sentenced to 70 to 93 months, or five years, ten months to seven years, nine months, in prison. He was also ordered to pay a $50,000 fine.

On August 11, 2023, deputies assigned to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Team responded to an address on Dillon Drive in Statesville. Deputies learned that Jusin Lewis Ostwalt, a convicted felon with outstanding warrants for arrest, lived in the home.

According to a news release, when Officers arrived Ostwalt was spotted running into the residence. A woman eventually came to the door and escorted the deputies inside to search for Ostwalt. While deputies were searching in the basement, they found a large amount of marijuana as well as multiple firearms. Ostwalt was located found inside a locked bathroom.

During the ensuing search of the residence, Deputies seized 254 grams of marijuana, 14 grams of marijuana wax, 8.14 grams of pressed fentanyl pills, and .01 grams of methamphetamine. Five firearms and 300 rounds of ammunition were also seized

Story: Rob Eastwood-WHKY