Antonio Foster, Heroin Distribution, North Carolina 2019

Raleigh, NC - A Wilmington gang member has received a significant sentence for his role in heroin distribution.

On Friday in federal court, Chief United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced Antonio Foster, 30, of Wilmington, North Carolina, to 156 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release.

Foster was named in a two-count Indictment filed on March 13, 2019, charging him with distribution of a quantity of heroin and possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin. On August 8, 2019, Foster pled guilty to distribution of a quantity of heroin and possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin.

According to the investigation, on January 23, 2019, the New Hanover County Vice Unit conducted a controlled purchase of heroin from Foster outside of an apartment complex in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Following the sale of heroin, law enforcement served a search warrant on Foster's apartment. Law Enforcement found items used to manufacture heroin in a child's closet and 500 bags of cocaine and almost 400 bags of heroin in a beanbag chair. Foster had recently been released from prison for a North Carolina State Court conviction for habitual felon. According to law enforcement, Foster is a validated gang member.

This case is also part of the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney's Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.

This case is part of an FBI Coastal Carolina Safe Street Task Force led OCDETF operation “Dodge Ball.” This is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). This investigation is focused on violent gang members involved in the distribution of heroin, possession of firearms, and associated violence.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation Coastal Carolina Safe Street Task Force, the New Hanover County Sheriff's Offices, and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations conducted the investigation of this case. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Severo prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

Defendant: Antonio Foster

Criminal Charges: Distribution of a quantity of heroin and possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin

City and State: Wilmington, North Carolina

Exact Date: January 23, 2019

Sentence or Outcome: 156 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/pr/wilmington-gang-member-receives-13-years-federal-prison