Kacey Hicks, Narcotics and Firearm Trafficking, NC 2024

Kacey Hicks, 34, of Henderson, North Carolina, is headed for federal prison after a jury convicted him on multiple narcotics and firearm charges following a two-day trial in Elizabeth City. The verdict, delivered in U.S. District Court before Chief Judge Terrance W. Boyle, marks a significant win for federal anti-drug efforts in northeastern North Carolina.

Authorities zeroed in on Hicks after receiving a complaint about ongoing drug activity at a residence in the Flint Hill neighborhood of Henderson. A subsequent investigation led to the execution of a search warrant, where officers found Hicks hiding beneath a bed—just inches from a loaded firearm. The discovery set the stage for a damning case built on physical evidence and procedural precision.

Inside the home, law enforcement seized distributable quantities of cocaine and marijuana, two additional firearms, ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and a stash of U.S. currency. The proximity of the weapons to the drugs and the defendant’s status as a convicted felon made the firearm charges unavoidable under federal law.

The jury found Hicks guilty of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana; felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; and maintaining a dwelling for drug distribution. Each count carries severe penalties, underscoring the federal crackdown on drug-related violence and illegal weapons possession.

Hicks now faces a maximum of 20 years in prison followed by no less than 3 years of supervised release on the drug counts. On the firearm charge, he could serve up to 10 years behind bars with no more than 3 years of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for a later date.

The case was prosecuted under the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Take Back North Carolina Initiative, targeting violent crime and drug trafficking through sustained federal-local partnerships. The Henderson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation, while Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Crosby and Laura Howard led the prosecution.

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