Scotland County Man Convicted on Drug and Firearm Charges

GREENSBORO, N.C. - A jury in federal district court convicted VERNON SCOTT NORTON today of multiple drug and firearm charges, announced United States Attorney Dan Bishop of the Middle District of North Carolina.

According to court documents, NORTON, age 34, was initially indicted on October 27, 2025, charged in Count One with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine; in Count Two with possession of a firearm in furtherance of the offense charged in Count One; in Count Three with possession of a machinegun; and in Counts Four and Five with felon in possession of firearms.

Evidence at trial showed that NORTON was a previously convicted felon who possessed 31 firearms and a significant quantity of methamphetamine at his trailer in Laurel Hill, North Carolina. On December 29, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the property early in the morning. Officers located eight firearms inside the trailer and 23 additional firearms in a 2005 Infiniti parked in the yard. One of the firearms in the Infiniti was a machinegun-a Glock Model 19X 9mm pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device.

Inside the trailer, officers recovered nearly 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride. At the time of his arrest, NORTON had more than $6,000 in cash on his person. A readily accessible firearm-a Sturm/Ruger & Co. Inc. Model Ruger P94 9mm pistol-was found resting on the arm of a sofa next to a loaded magazine. Before executing the warrant, law enforcement had conducted multiple controlled purchases of narcotics from the property.

A jury convicted NORTON on all counts of the Indictment after a four-day trial. At sentencing, NORTON faces a term of imprisonment of 15 years to life, not less than 5 years of supervised release, fines, and restitution. Sentencing is scheduled for February 17, 2027, before Senior United States District Judge William L. Osteen, Jr. in Greensboro.

The case was investigated by the Scotland County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Frank J. Chut and Chase Stevens.

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