RALEIGH, N.C. — Justin Kyle Tripp, a Burlington resident, was yesterday handed a 160-month sentence for distributing heroin and fentanyl, both of which are driving the current overdose epidemic across America. The grim reality of Tripp’s trade came to light when an overdose death linked back to him shocked law enforcement.
Tripp, now 38 years old, entered a guilty plea on June 8, 2022, marking the end of an investigation that began with the tragic death of a North Carolinian. On June 8, 2020, Raleigh Police Department officers responded to a residence where they discovered an empty heroin bindle, a syringe, and a spoon near a deceased victim. The victim’s phone revealed exchanges with Tripp detailing a heroin purchase.
Tripp’s cause of death was determined to be acute fentanyl and heroin intoxication, a testament to the drug’s deadly nature. Following the incident, law enforcement secured a search warrant for Tripp’s home, where they uncovered a cache of heroin-fentanyl mixture, a digital scale, and several empty heroin bindles.
U.S. Attorney Michael Easley, representing the Eastern District of North Carolina, emphasized the severity of fentanyl’s role in the overdose crisis. ‘Fentanyl is a dangerous synthetic drug that is fueling addiction and overdose deaths,’ Easley stated. ‘We are targeting the dealers and criminal networks responsible for distributing this poison.’
Following the sentencing, U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle announced the verdict. The case was investigated by the Raleigh Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly L. Sandling.
For more information on related court documents and details of the case, the public can visit the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or access PACER using Case No. 5:21-CR-00296-BO.
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- Jarvis Alonzo Davis Gets 13.75 Years for Crack, Heroin, Gun Sales · North Carolina
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Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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