WILMINGTON — Detectives with the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office arrested two people in a methamphetamine bust after a joint investigation with the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, surveillance was conducted by detectives on Thompson while he traveled back home from an out of town trip; detectives then arrested William Neil Thompson, 62, and Rhonda Lee Mason, 53, near Dawson and 17th streets in the early morning of Friday, August 31. The two were in possession of approximately 8 grams of methamphetamine, located in a “secret compartment” in Thompson’s vehicle.
Detectives from the New Hanover and Brunswick Sheriff Departments later located 319 grams of methamphetamine at a residence in Winnabow. Detectives also searched Thompson’s Wilmington residence on Cobblestone Drive, located off Market St. just east of the Target shopping center.
According to the Sheriff’ Office, detectives located “large scales with methamphetamine residue, hidden traps, safes, false containers, used and unused syringes, smoking devices and plastic baggies used for packaging,” indicating a trafficking operation.
Thompson and Mason are being held at the New Hanover County Detention Facility.
William Neil Thompson is charged with:
- 1 count trafficking methamphetamine by transportation
- 1 count trafficking methamphetamine by possession
- 1 count conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine
- 2 counts felony maintaining a vehicle (for illegal purposes)
- 4 counts possession of drug paraphernalia
- 1 count possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver (PWIMSD) methamphetamine
- 1 count possession of methamphetamine
- 1 count felony maintaining a residence
- 1 count simple possession of SCH IV drug
Rhonda Lee Mason is charged with:
1 count trafficking methamphetamine by transportation
1 count trafficking methamphetamine by possession
1 count conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine
2 counts felony maintaining a vehicle
2 counts possession of drug paraphernalia
1 count PWIMSD methamphetamine
