SALISBURY — A Faith man was convicted this week for his role in the distribution of heroin and meth in 2017. Officials said he drove the car for a Rockwell man known as a major player in drug distribution.

Joshua Wayne Eldreth, 31, was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Anna Mills Wagoner to a minimum of 70 months to a maximum of 93 months in prison. He was also ordered to pay a $50,000 fine.

Eldreth was convicted of felony conspiracy to traffic in heroin and felony sale of methamphetamine.

Detectives with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office received information that people were traveling to Charlotte and returning to Rowan County with illegal narcotics, including heroin and methamphetamine.

In 2017, an undercover detective bought 1 gram of meth from Eldreth for $100, authoritises said. A search warrant turned up about 47 grams of heroin in co-defendant Grady Edward Austin Jr.’s pants pocket. Detectives also seized more than $2,000 in cash, firearms and ammunition.

Austin was previously convicted in the case and sentenced to a minimum of 18.75 years to a maximum of 23.5 years in prison.

Rowan County District Attorney Brandy Cook said she is thankful to Assistant District Attorney Barrett Poppler and the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office in seeing that Eldreth was brought to justice.