Crystal Marie Pate, Drug Trafficking, North Carolina 2018

Raleigh, NC – In a major blow to the Wilson and Nash County region, a woman has been sentenced to 138 months in prison for her role in a large-scale drug trafficking organization.

Crystal Marie Pate, 32, of Lucama, North Carolina, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever III after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess With Intent to Distribute 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and a Quantity of Heroin; and one count of Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug-Trafficking Crime while Aiding and Abetting another.

The investigation, led by the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), began in 2015 after they identified a drug trafficking organization led by Pate and her co-defendants. Law enforcement used surveillance, seizures, and controlled purchases of multiple types of drugs, including heroin, methamphetamine, and assorted pills, to gather evidence.

During the course of the investigation, law enforcement executed a search warrant and recovered drug packaging materials, quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, and other controlled substances. The Court determined that Pate was responsible for the distribution of 10.38 grams of heroin and 23.81 grams of methamphetamine, and the possession of a firearm in furtherance of her drug trafficking activity – specifically a .44 Caliber Charter Arms handgun.

The case was investigated by the Wilson County Sherriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Brad Knott prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

Pate’s sentence of 138 months in prison, followed by 5 years of federal supervised release, serves as a stern warning to others involved in large-scale drug trafficking organizations. As the Grimy Times continues to report on the war on crime, it is clear that law enforcement agencies are working tirelessly to dismantle these organizations and bring those responsible to justice.

The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.

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