Fayetteville Drug Kingpin Harrington Sentenced to 24 Years

RALEIGH, N.C. – In a stunning blow to the drug trade in Eastern North Carolina, Celestio Lefranz Harrington, 34, of Lillington, has been sentenced to 24 years in federal prison for his role in a massive drug trafficking conspiracy.

Harrington was found guilty of distributing over 180 kilograms of methamphetamine, 15 kilograms of cocaine, and a kilogram of fentanyl – enough to decimate the population of Lillington five times over. The drugs flooded local communities with deadly substances, leading U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle to label Harrington as a predator on community devastation.

The investigation, which led to Harrington’s downfall, began in early 2023 when detectives identified him as a key supplier in the Fayetteville area. Surveillance revealed his travels across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Philadelphia, where he met drug suppliers and addicts.

On March 29, 2023, North Carolina State Highway Patrol troopers discovered over 4.4 kilograms of methamphetamine and 4.1 kilograms of cocaine in Harrington’s car upon his return from Philadelphia. A subsequent search of his Fayetteville apartment yielded an additional 3.7 kilograms of meth, 489 grams of fentanyl, and packaging materials for drug resale.

Operation Take Back America, a nationwide DOJ initiative, played a pivotal role in this case. The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol collaborated to dismantle Harrington’s network and bring him to justice.

“Drug traffickers like Harrington are public enemies who destroy lives and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Boyle. “We will continue to target major suppliers and hold them accountable for their crimes.” Related court documents can be accessed on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina website or PACER by searching Case No. 5:23-CR-336.