Daryl Cromartie, Possession of Firearm by Felon and Possession with Intent to Distribute, North Carolina 2024

Raleigh, NC – In a significant blow to the city’s fight against narcotics, Daryl Cromartie, 32, of Wilmington, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for possession of a firearm by felon and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and phencyclidine (PCP).

On February 27, 2024, Cromartie pled guilty to the charges, marking a turning point in the case that has been months in the making. According to court records and evidence presented in court, in February 2023, the Wilmington Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the drug trafficking activities of Daryl Cromartie.

From February 23, 2023, to July 14, 2023, law enforcement utilized confidential informants to purchase narcotics from Cromartie. Most of the controlled buys occurred outside of Cromartie’s residence in Wilmington. Prior to the transactions, Cromartie and the confidential informants communicated via cellphone.

On July 17, 2023, the FBI obtained a search warrant for Cromartie’s residence in Wilmington. Cromartie was present during the search and acknowledged there were various controlled substances, a handgun, and U.S. currency in the home. Officers seized 8.01 grams of cocaine, 42.8 grams of crack cocaine, 55.2 grams of heroin/fentanyl, 37.2 grams of marijuana, a digital scale, $4,360 in U.S. currency, and a loaded 9mm handgun from a safe in the master bedroom.

Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The FBI, WPD, and NHCSO investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leonard Champaign prosecuted the case.

The investigation was a result of a collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies, highlighting the importance of cooperation in the fight against narcotics. The sentence handed down to Cromartie serves as a warning to those involved in drug trafficking that law enforcement will continue to work tirelessly to bring them to justice.

In related news, court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:23-CR-00094-M.

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