Genesis Lee Whitted, Jr., Cocaine Trafficking and Firearm Possession, North Carolina 2017

Convicted Defendant: Genesis Lee Whitted, Jr.

Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine base, six substantive distribution charges, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

City and State: Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Crime Date: 2015.

Sentence: Genesis Lee Whitted, Jr. faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten years, with a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

Greenwood, NC – Genesis Lee Whitted, Jr., a 28-year-old male resident of Fayetteville, was convicted following a three-day trial before Senior United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard. The jury found Whitted guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine base, six substantive distribution charges, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

The evidence at trial showed that Whitted was the leader of a drug trafficking organization that regularly trafficked cocaine base (crack) throughout Fayetteville. The group used multiple locations, including a car wash on Pamalee Drive, for their drug distribution activities.

Witnesses testified that Whitted regularly cooked powder cocaine into cocaine base, and that the Defendant was regularly armed with a handgun during his drug trafficking activities. On his chest, the Defendant even had a tattoo of a Pyrex measuring cup and a box of baking soda–both of which are used to “cook” powder cocaine into cocaine base.

During the fall of 2015, the Fayetteville Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted a complex investigation of Whitted’s drug operation, including electronic surveillance, physical surveillance, and controlled purchases of cocaine base from Whitted and others.

On November 18, 2015, Whitted distributed cocaine base and possessed a firearm in furtherance of his drug distribution. Whitted was recorded bragging that he had a “pocket rocket,” and that even though the gun was small, it was effective enough to kill someone if you shot the person twice in the chest. He also bragged that if he was stopped by the police, he would be able to throw the gun quickly before the police found it.