Eugene Montale Jenkins, Fentanyl Possession, North Carolina 2023

A federal jury in North Carolina has convicted Eugene Montale Jenkins, age 36, for possessing with intent to sell 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

Jenkins, a known drug dealer in Edgecombe County, had been selling fentanyl, marijuana, cocaine, and crack from his trap house for some time. An investigation by the Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO) led to five controlled buys of fentanyl from Jenkins between March and July 2023.

On July 12, 2023, ECSO executed a search warrant at the trap house, where they found Jenkins attempting to discard over three ounces of crack. A search of the premises revealed a backpack containing over 6,000 bindles of fentanyl, worth over $100,000, as well as a bag of money, digital scales, empty bindles, stamps, ink pads, and rubber bands.

The stamps on the fentanyl bindles recovered during the search matched the stamps on the bindles sold during the controlled buys.

“Folks need to realize that selling drugs will get you caught. When the jury convicts you, you will spend a long time in federal prison. It’s not worth it. Have pride in who you are and don’t destroy your community,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Dixon and Kevin Gerarde prosecuted the case, while ECSO and the ATF participated in the investigation.

The case is currently under the jurisdiction of U.S. District Judge William L. Osteen.

Mandatory facts: Defendant name - Eugene Montale Jenkins; Criminal charges - possessing with intent to sell 40 grams or more of fentanyl; City and state - Raleigh, North Carolina; Exact date - March 2023; and Sentence or outcome - currently pending sentencing.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/pr/drug-dealer-convicted-possessing-over-6000-bags-fentanyl