WILMINGTON, NC – Another street-level pusher is off the streets of Wilmington thanks to a joint federal operation. DETRICK DAYE, 23, was sentenced to 162 months – that’s 13 years and 6 months – in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. The sentence comes after Daye pled guilty last November to a slew of drug charges, including conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl.
According to court documents, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force launched an investigation into Daye’s operation after a spike in opioid overdoses rocked the area in late 2017. The investigation quickly honed in on a drug trafficking organization, and Daye’s central role within it. Law enforcement wasn’t just reacting to overdoses, they were actively building a case.
Between September and December 2017, undercover officers with the Sheriff’s Office made six separate controlled purchases of either straight heroin or a deadly heroin/fentanyl mix directly from Daye at various locations throughout Wilmington. Each buy moved the investigation closer to a bust. On December 7th, 2017, after the final transaction, agents moved in and arrested Daye. A subsequent search of his residence turned up a stash of the same dangerous heroin/fentanyl combination.
This wasn’t just a simple drug deal, either. Authorities confirmed Daye was a “validated gang member,” suggesting a deeper level of organization and potential for further criminal activity. The connection to gang activity highlights the complex web of crime plaguing our communities and the need for sustained pressure on these networks.
U.S. Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. framed the case as part of the “Take Back North Carolina Initiative,” a focused effort by the Eastern District of North Carolina to assign federal prosecutors to work alongside local law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices. The goal? A sustained reduction in violent crime, drug trafficking, and attacks on law enforcement. This isn’t about quick wins; it’s about long-term strategy.
The FBI Safe Streets Task Force and the New Hanover County Narcotics Unit spearheaded the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy M. Severo leading the prosecution. While this sentence removes one dealer from the streets, the fight against the opioid crisis is far from over. Grimy Times will continue to track these cases and expose the individuals profiting from the misery of others.
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Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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