Natalie Ritter, 25, of Hamlet
HAMLET — Sheriff Mark Gulledge reports that on Friday, August 11, 2023, Investigators with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Community Impact Team, the sheriff’s office SRT, Hamlet Police, Moore County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, agents with the N.C. SBI and the ATF, executed search warrants on a residence located on Rice St. in Hamlet, and a apartment located on Clemmer Rd. in Rockingham, along with vehicles of the target suspects.
Over the last six months, investigators have been investigating after receiving complaints that a local bail bondsman was dealing and potentially trafficking larger amounts of illegal narcotics in Richmond County.
Investigators with the sheriff’s office CIT, assisted by the Rockingham Police Department’s narcotics unit, made numerous purchases of illegal narcotics from the suspect(s) throughout the county at different locations.
During the search warrants, Investigators & Agents arrested Kelly Elonzo Miller, 37, of Hamlet and Natalie Ritter, 25, of Hamlet.
Both have been charged with trafficking methamphetamine, trafficking opium or heroin, trafficking cocaine, PWISD Sch. I, Sch. III, cocaine, & methamphetamine, felony possession of Sch. I, possess methamphetamine, felony possession of cocaine, maintaining a dwelling/vehicle for a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Miller was processed into the Richmond County Jail under a $1,250,000 secure bond.
Ritter was processed into the Richmond County Jail under a $1,010,000 secure bond.
Investigators seized 133 grams of cocaine, 443.5 grams of fentanyl, 432.7 grams of Crystal methamphetamine, assorted drug paraphernalia, firearms and $84,017 in U.S. Currency.