Federal authorities are moving to seize a Charlotte hotel after investigators say it was repeatedly used as a location for drug and firearms trafficking involving individuals working in security roles, according to a federal complaint from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
The case centers on the Garden Inn & Suites, where investigators say a months-long FBI and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department operation documented repeated illegal activity and led to multiple arrests and a civil forfeiture action.
Federal prosecutors say five people face federal charges, 10 have been arrested, and an additional suspect remains at large.
Six others face state charges tied to drugs and firearms offenses. Authorities allege fentanyl, cocaine base, and illegal firearms were distributed in and around the property over an extended period of time.
U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson said the hotel was used repeatedly as a location for illegal activity and is now subject to a forfeiture action aimed at transferring control of the property to the federal government.
Officials say the action is based on allegations that criminal activity continued despite repeated law enforcement contact and warnings to management.
Court filings and federal affidavits allege members of the hotel’s security team were directly involved in drug and firearms sales.
Investigators say undercover officers made controlled purchases over several months, confirming repeated transactions tied to individuals operating on or around the property, according to WBTV.
Authorities also allege that several security personnel had prior felony convictions, including drug-related and violent offenses, and used their positions to facilitate or carry out illegal activity while employed at the hotel.
Investigators say in some instances transactions occurred inside the property while individuals were on duty in security roles.
Law enforcement officials say the investigation included surveillance, undercover operations, and coordinated enforcement through the FBI Safe Streets Task Force working with local and state agencies.
Officials reported seizing multiple firearms and narcotics during the operation.
Police data cited in the case shows the hotel generated hundreds of service calls over a multi-year period, including more than 240 calls in a single year.
Officials say the volume of incidents contributed to the decision to escalate the matter into a federal investigation and forfeiture action, according to The Center Square.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Estella D. Patterson said the property required repeated police response and placed sustained demands on law enforcement resources.
Officials credited coordinated federal, state, and local efforts for dismantling what they described as a long-running pattern of criminal activity centered at the location.
Investigators also allege hotel management was previously warned about ongoing criminal activity and concerns regarding security staffing but did not take sufficient corrective action.
Prosecutors say those warnings included concerns that individuals with criminal histories were working in roles with access to the property and guests.
Federal prosecutors are now seeking to take control of the property under civil forfeiture laws due to its alleged role in facilitating repeated drug and firearms trafficking activity.
The government is seeking to take control of the property as part of a broader enforcement effort targeting locations used to support ongoing criminal conduct.
The case remains under federal prosecution as investigators continue reviewing evidence and pursuing additional suspects connected to the operation.
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