United States of America v. Kerby Pata

New Bern, North Carolina, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with conspiracy to distribute more than 11 pounds of cocaine and conspiracy to possess with the intent to sell more than 50 grams of meth.

Reported by: Kent Morlan

In April 2022, the Virginia State Police caught Kerby Pata, age 40, of Miramar Florida, with more than six pounds of cocaine in his car. The Virginia court released Pata pending trial. Six months later, Pata and Stacey Phillipe flew to California where they purchased more than 13 pounds of cocaine. Phillipe then drove a rental car with Pata’s cocaine from California towards North Carolina. Fortunately, the Arkansas State Police stopped Phillipe on the way.

Pata continued using his drug mules unabated. Simoneka Neal drove eight pounds of Pata’s cocaine in February 2023. Officers attempted to stop Neal, but she recklessly sped off, eventually crashing. Officers searched her car and found the cocaine.

In February 2023, Pata was arrested in Florida on federal charges, but the Florida court released him pending trial. He immediately returned to his criminal ways, selling drugs again.

In September 2025, Pata mailed more than ¾ of a pound of methamphetamine to Aaron Barner in Virginia from Florida. Pata told Barner to deliver the meth to an individual in Nash County, North Carolina. Law enforcement conducted surveillance, observed Barner’s drug transaction, and arrested him.

Pata had previously served time in a federal prison for Aggravated Identity Theft in 2012. Neal received 60 months and Barnes received 24 months in federal prison for their roles in Pata’s drug distribution organization.

The Defendant was found guilty and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.