North Carolina felon gets 22 years for 15 guns, fentanyl pills, meth and cocaine

CHEROKEE COUNTY, N.C. — A Murphy, North Carolina man with prior felony convictions was sentenced this week after authorities say he was caught with a large cache of illegal drugs and firearms.

44-year-old John Anthony Barreiro of Murphy was sentenced Thursday to 22 years in prison and ordered to serve five years of supervised release, according to an announcement from Russ Ferguson, U.S. attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Authorities say Barreiro illegally possessed 15 firearms along with more than 1,600 fentanyl pills and more than 800 grams of methamphetamine and cocaine.

According to court documents, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop of Barreiro’s vehicle on Dec. 4th, 2023.

Authorities say Barreiro fled instead of stopping, leading to a vehicle pursuit.

Court documents show that during the chase, Barreiro threw a Glock 9mm pistol out of the passenger-side window.

Authorities say he later threw a bag out of the same window containing more than 300 grams of methamphetamine, fentanyl tablets, fentanyl powder and cocaine.

Law enforcement later recovered the firearm and the drugs, according to court records.

After throwing the gun and drugs from the vehicle, authorities say Barreiro pulled over and was arrested.

Investigators say they found additional clear baggies with suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine in the vehicle and on Barreiro.

Authorities also say Barreiro had $7,840 in cash, marijuana, a loaded Glock 30-round capacity magazine and a bag containing multiple loose rounds of 9mm ammunition in the vehicle.

Later the same day, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a Murphy home where Barreiro was known to reside.

Law enforcement seized 14 firearms, 1,450 fentanyl tablets, fentanyl powder, cocaine and almost 500 grams of methamphetamine, authorities say.

Barreiro had prior convictions that prohibited him from possessing firearms.

Barreiro pleaded guilty on Sept. 26th to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

He was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison on Thursday.

Barreiro remains in federal custody until he is transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.