Two men convicted in drug trafficking cases involving cocaine and oxycodone

WHITEVILLE, NC (WECT) – District Attorney Jon David shared details of two drug-related convictions in Columbus County Superior Court on October 25.

Banks Raphel Batton, a 37-year-old from Tabor City, was sentenced to 35-51 months in prison and a $50,000 fine for two counts of trafficking cocaine and other crimes stemming from incidents in 2021 and 2022. They were both from of search warrants at According to the district attorney, detectives found guns, cash, digital scales, marijuana and a money counting machine in his home.

Phillip Ruffin of New York pleaded guilty to opioid trafficking the same week and was sentenced to 70-93 months in prison and a $50,000 fine. He and his brother were both stopped by the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office in August 2023 with hanging tags. The district attorney’s office says they found 15 grams of oxycodone pills in his pants. His brother also pleaded guilty earlier this year.