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Convicted: Jacksonville Man Tied to $210,000 Cash Haul
A federal jury in New Bern convicted Austin Kyle Lee, 30, of Jacksonville on charges tied to a massive narcotics operation.
Lee, who was also known as Justin, sold heroin to dealers in Jacksonville on multiple occasions, starting in 2016, according to court records and evidence presented at trial. The investigation revealed that Lee was maintaining a stash house next door to his probation-official residence, in direct violation of his parole terms.
The stash house, located on Ridge View Drive, was searched by law enforcement, yielding a staggering haul of $210,000 in cash, 354.4 grams of cocaine, 159.72 grams of heroin, and 118.95 grams of marijuana.
A loaded Glock 19 9mm pistol, Kel-Tec 9mm pistol, and Jiminez Arms .22 pistol with obliterated serial number were also found at the stash house. The evidence presented at trial showed that over the course of approximately two years, Lee distributed around 5 kilograms of heroin, 20 kilograms of cocaine, and 1.75 pounds of marijuana.
Lee faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment when sentenced in July 2021. The Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, Jacksonville Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucy Brown and Robert Dodson prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced the conviction, praising the tireless efforts of the investigative agencies involved. U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan accepted the verdict, bringing a sense of closure to the case.
The conviction is a significant blow to the narcotics trade in Jacksonville and a testament to the dedication of law enforcement agencies in the Eastern District of North Carolina. The public can find related court documents and information on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina website or through PACER by searching for Case No. 7:18-cr-00153-FL-1.
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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