Michael Wayne Radetski, 42, of Holly Ridge, North Carolina, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison followed by 4 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to selling marijuana within 1,000 feet of Dixon High School and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The sentence, handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge James C. Dever, III, marks the end of a federal case rooted in brazen drug sales to minors and armed intimidation.
Radetski was indicted on four counts on July 19, 2017, and entered a guilty plea on December 4, 2017. The charges stemmed from a December 21, 2016 raid by the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office at his mobile home park residence. Officers found a loaded AR-15 .223 rifle, a 60-round drum magazine, three additional rifle mags, three handgun mags, a 9mm pistol, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, 156.2 grams of marijuana, a water bong, digital scales, grinders, a ballistic vest, and tools used to modify firearms.
Investigators confirmed Radetski had purchased 20 to 30 pounds of marijuana over the prior year at $3,500 per pound. As a convicted felon, he was barred from firearm possession — so he arranged for a 19-year-old straw buyer to purchase the AR-15. To cover the illegal transfer, Radetski’s wife signed a notarized letter falsely claiming ownership of the weapon.
But the operation wasn’t just about supply — it preyed on youth. Officers learned that students from Dixon High School regularly bought marijuana from Radetski’s home, often smoking it on-site or at school. When warned of potential exposure, Radetski didn’t back down — he threatened to plant explosives in the car of any student who “snitched.” On at least one occasion, he brandished a handgun at a regular buyer during a confrontation at his residence.
The case was prosecuted under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the DOJ’s nationwide initiative to dismantle violent crime networks and protect at-risk communities. Attorney General Jeff Sessions pushed for PSN’s revival in October 2017, urging U.S. Attorney Offices to target gun and drug crimes threatening public safety, especially near schools.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James J. Kurosad led the prosecution. Radetski’s decade-long sentence underscores the federal crackdown on felons trafficking drugs and weapons in proximity to schools — where violence and addiction can take root fastest.
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Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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