GREENVILLE, NC – Troy Ahkeem WILSON, 38, of Wilmington, North Carolina, is headed to federal prison for twelve years after being sentenced for a large-scale heroin and fentanyl operation. Senior United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard handed down the 144-month sentence, followed by five years of supervised release, on April 12, 2017.
WILSON was convicted following a superseding indictment filed September 21, 2016, and ultimately pled guilty to Possess with the Intent to Distribute a Quantity of Heroin and Possess with the Intent to Distribute 40 Grams or More of Fentanyl on January 12, 2017. The case stemmed from two separate traffic stops in February and April of 2016, revealing a brazen disregard for the law and a clear intent to flood the streets with dangerous narcotics.
The first bust, on February 3, 2016, saw Duplin County Sheriff’s deputies pull over WILSON’s vehicle. A search revealed .81 grams of heroin and an off-white powdery substance on WILSON’s person. A female passenger was also found with 16.73 grams of heroin hidden in her bra, later claiming she and WILSON had made a trip to New York to source the drugs. Investigators also recovered an additional 13.18 grams of heroin from the transport vehicle used to bring WILSON to jail. It painted a clear picture: WILSON was the supplier.
Just two months later, on April 29, 2016, the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office conducted another traffic stop on a vehicle driven by WILSON. This time, the smell of marijuana led to a search that uncovered not only weed, but also five bags of heroin and a large bag packed with fentanyl – a substance the DEA states is 40 to 50 times stronger than street-level heroin. The total seizure amounted to a staggering 95.70 grams of fentanyl and 3.48 grams of a heroin/fentanyl mixture, alongside other drug paraphernalia. The potential for overdose and death was immense.
Federal investigators determined WILSON was responsible for approximately 99.18 grams of fentanyl, 30.94 grams of heroin, 14 grams of marijuana, and 0.4 gram of crack cocaine. The FBI’s Coastal Carolinas Criminal Enterprise Task Force – comprised of agents from the FBI’s Wilmington Resident Agency, Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation – painstakingly built the case. The Duplin County Sheriff’s Office also provided crucial assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Howard successfully prosecuted the case.
Fentanyl is a particularly deadly threat to both users and law enforcement. Even a tiny amount absorbed through the skin can be fatal. Readers can find more information on the dangers of fentanyl at this DEA resource. WILSON’s sentence sends a message: trafficking in these poisons will not be tolerated, and those who profit from addiction will face serious consequences.
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- Elmira Kingpin Washington Gets 135 Months for Fentanyl Deaths · North Carolina
- New Bern Heroin Kingpin Gets 35 Years · North Carolina
- Wilmington Man Gets 17+ Years for Heroin Sales · North Carolina
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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