Anivel Pedro Puddy, Fentanyl Trafficking, North Carolina 2024

Rocky Mount brothers, Anivel Pedro Puddy and Carvell Shamike Puddy, sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a large-scale drug trafficking operation involving crack cocaine, fentanyl, and firearms. Anivel Puddy, 35, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute fentanyl and crack cocaine. His brother, Carvell Shamike Puddy, 33, of Rocky Mount, was sentenced to nine years for distributing crack and possessing a firearm in connection with drug trafficking.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Anivel Puddy was selling crack and fentanyl-laced Percocet pills in the Rocky Mount area between 2023 and early 2024. Investigators used informants and surveillance to track his activities and eventually searched multiple residences associated to him. On one occasion, officers found more than 470 grams of cocaine, fentanyl pills disguised as Percocet, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and high-capacity magazines.

Carvell Puddy ran his operation from several homes across Rocky Mount. Law enforcement bought more than 500 grams of crack from him during undercover buys. When they searched his locations, they found over 60 grams of crack, a loaded 9mm handgun with an extended magazine, and a disassembled sawed-off shotgun.

The Nash County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF investigated the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie A. Childress and Caroline Webb prosecuting the case. U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar praised the local and federal partners who worked to shut down both operations, hold the defendants responsible, and make Nash County neighborhoods safer.

“Pumping illicit narcotics—especially fentanyl—into our communities not only endangers the lives of our citizens, it is a serious federal crime,” Bubar said. “We’re grateful to our local and federal partners who worked to shut down both operations, hold these defendants responsible, and make Nash County neighborhoods safer.”

Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone commended the investigators who refused to stop at the street level and took the case to a higher level. Their tireless work helped take down major players in the drug trade and made the community a safer place.

The case is a significant blow to the large-scale drug trafficking operation in Rocky Mount. The sentences will ensure that Anivel Pedro Puddy and Carvell Shamike Puddy face the consequences of their actions, bringing justice to the community.

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