Richard Stinson, Heroin Trafficking, NC 2023

RALEIGH – The grim streets of Wilmington witnessed a heavy blow against the drug trade as Richard Stinson, 37, was handed down a 16-year sentence for his role in a ruthless heroin trafficking operation.

The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that Judge James C. Dever, III sentenced Stinson to 192 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. On July 23, 2018, Stinson admitted to conspiracy to distribute and possess heroin, possession with intent to distribute, and using a firearm to aid drug trafficking.

Stinson’s organization was alleged to have imported heroin from New York to a ‘stash house’ on Northern Boulevard in Wilmington. It was here that Stinson oversaw the distribution of the deadly substance. His parole status out of New York for manslaughter complicated matters, as he picked up some of the heroin while meeting his parole officer.

The feds and local law enforcement struck when they served a search warrant on April 1, 2016, uncovering Stinson alongside a loaded .45 caliber handgun. In his bedroom, a key to a safe and two more handguns were found, while in the kitchen, approximately 1000 empty bags were discovered, ready for their next batch of heroin. More than 30 grams of raw heroin, 867 bindles of packaged heroin, and $1,500 were seized from an apartment on the property.

Stinson was held responsible for more than 280 grams of heroin during the conspiracy. The case is part of the ‘Take Back North Carolina Initiative,’ a regional effort to combat violent crime and drug trafficking.

The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Wilmington Police Department Narcotics Unit, with Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Severo handling the prosecution for the government.

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