Abdul Sanderlin, Methamphetamine Trafficking, North Carolina 2023

Raleigh, NC – Abdul Sanderlin, a 29-year-old man from Onslow County, was handed a 151-month federal prison sentence for his involvement in a multi-state methamphetamine trafficking operation.

According to court documents and testimonies, the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office had received information that Sanderlin was involved in the distribution of narcotics between New Jersey and Sneads Ferry, NC.

In August 2020, an undercover DEA task force officer made a controlled purchase of a half-ounce of methamphetamine from Sanderlin. Law enforcement observed Sanderlin leaving his Sneads Ferry apartment prior to making the deal. Later, they served a search warrant on the residence, recovering 46 grams of methamphetamine, over 2,000 bags of suspected heroin, paraphernalia associated with drug distribution, and more than $17,000.

Sanderlin had a prior conviction history in New Jersey state court, including manufacturing or distributing a controlled dangerous substance or intent to manufacture in 2012, felony unlawful possession of a handgun in 2014, and manufacturing or distributing a controlled dangerous substance or intent to manufacture in 2018.

On January 26, 2023, Sanderlin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and distribution of a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.

U.S. Attorney Michael Easley announced the sentencing after it was handed down by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Onslow County Sheriff’s Offices investigated the case, while Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Severo and Gabe Diaz prosecuted it.

The case has been documented on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina’s website and PACER by searching for Case No. 7:22-cr-00082-D.

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