Wilmington Heroin Kingpin Sentenced to 30 Years

A notorious heroin trafficker has been brought to justice, thanks to a joint effort by federal and state law enforcement agencies.

Robert Boone, a 43-year-old from Leland, North Carolina, was sentenced in federal court to 360 months imprisonment after having previously been convicted of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

The investigation revealed that Boone operated a large-scale drug trafficking organization (DTO) in his hometown of Paterson, New Jersey, which he relocated to Wilmington, North Carolina around 2012. From 2012 to 2015, the DTO ‘flooded’ Wilmington with kilogram quantities of heroin.

Couriers were employed to transport the heroin and heroin proceeds between New Jersey and Wilmington. The DTO utilized multiple bank accounts, wire transfers, and prepaid debit cards to launder hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds.

Boone’s co-conspirators have also been brought to justice, with several already sentenced in federal court. AARON VEAL was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin and sentenced to 60 months imprisonment. JAMES TOWNSEND was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin and sentenced to 84 months imprisonment. CRAIG DENSON was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin and sentenced to 180 months imprisonment.

LARRY K. JOHNSON was convicted of money laundering conspiracy and sentenced to 96 months imprisonment. CHRISTOPHER ANTUAN JONES was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin and sentenced to 105 months imprisonment. DANIELLE JONES was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin and sentenced to 78 months imprisonment. SYRJAH KASHIK ALSTON was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin and money laundering conspiracy and sentenced to 96 months imprisonment.

TAKEYAH ONI BAKER was convicted of money laundering conspiracy and sentenced to 42 months imprisonment. OCTABIA LAUREN BOONE was convicted of money laundering conspiracy and sentenced to 42 months imprisonment. FELICIA HALL was convicted of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and sentenced to 3 years probation.

This case was brought as a part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Operation entitled WoofPack, investigating importers and multi-level distributors of heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, and gang activity associated with this DTO.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Wilmington Safe Streets Task Force, the Wilmington Police Department, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Virginia State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Toby Lathan handled the prosecution on behalf of the Eastern District of North Carolina.

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