Kortez Travon Williams, Fentanyl Trafficking, North Carolina 2024

RALEIGH, N.C. – In a shocking turn of events, a Henderson man has been sentenced to 117 months in prison for possessing with the intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Kortez Travon Williams, age 26, was handed the sentence on September 23, 2024, after pleading guilty to the charges. The case, which has left many in the community reeling, highlights the ongoing issue of fentanyl trafficking in North Carolina.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, law enforcement utilized a confidential informant to conduct multiple controlled purchases of narcotics from Williams. Two days after selling the informant marijuana, Williams sold the informant approximately 400 dosage units of a substance containing fentanyl. One week later, Williams sold the informant almost 500 dosage units of a substance containing fentanyl.

During all three controlled purchases, Williams had a firearm with him and visible. Following the controlled purchases, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Williams’ residence, during which they recovered approximately 7,095 dosage units, a firearm, and $12,736.

The sentencing was announced by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, the Henderson Police Department, and the Vance County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey L. Peaden prosecuting the case.

Related 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. 5:24-CR-00063.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of fentanyl trafficking and the importance of law enforcement’s efforts to combat this issue. As the community continues to grapple with the aftermath of this incident, one thing is clear: those involved in fentanyl trafficking will be held accountable for their actions.

Related Federal Cases