Lexington man charged with death by distribution
A Lexington man, recently arrested for trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamines, has been charged with contributing to the overdose death of a person in July by providing the controlled substance that killed them.
Christopher Brandon Yokeley, 45, of Lexington has been charged with death by distribution following an extensive investigation by the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office.
In July, detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division of the sheriff's office began an investigation of a suspected drug overdose after a person was found dead inside a residence in Davidson County.
During the investigation, Yokeley was identified as the individual who distributed the narcotics to the victim. The official cause of death was determined to be fentanyl toxicity following autopsy and toxicology results.
On Dec. 23, Yokeley was served with the indictment while incarcerated at the Davidson County Detention Center on unrelated narcotics charges. He remains in custody under a $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in the Davidson County Superior Court on Jan 5.
Yokeley was arrested in November following an investigation by the Davidson Anti-Drug Regional Task Force (DART), in collaboration with the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office Traffic and Criminal Enforcement Team (TRACE),
Detectives conducted a consensual search at Yokeley’s residence on N.C. Highway 150, where they confiscated approximately 49 grams of fentanyl, 16 grams of methamphetamine, Oxycodone, Xanax, drug paraphernalia, and three firearms.
Yokely was arrested and charges with felony trafficking heroin by possession, felony trafficking heroin by transport, felony possession of methamphetamine, felony maintaining a vehicle or dwelling for controlled substances, felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, simple possession of a Schedule IV Controlled Substance, simple possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
In 2020, Yokely was convicted of trafficking a Schedule II controlled substance, which includes fentanyl, methamphetamine, and Oxycodone. He was also convicted on multiple felony charges of possession of controlled substances, and served 2 years and 11 months in prison, according to the N.C Department of Corrections.
