Raleigh Drug Dealer Sentenced

Raleigh - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court yesterday United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced DARRIN HOWARD MERRITT, 48, of Raleigh,North Carolina, to 151 months imprisonment followed by 3 years supervised release.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on June 20, 2012, charging MERRITT with violations of federal narcotics laws.  MERRITT entered a guilty plea on September 11, 2012, to distributing a quantity of crack cocaine.

According to evidence presented in Court, on May 31 and June 9, 2011, MERRITT distributed crack cocaine in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Upon further investigation, it was learned that MERRITT was responsible for possessing and selling over 102 grams of cocaine and 10 grams of crack cocaine. 

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Raleigh-Durham Safe Streets Taskforce.  Members of the Raleigh-Durham Safe Streets Taskforce include:  Federal Bureau of Investigation, Raleigh Police Department, NC Alcohol Law Enforcement, NC Highway Patrol, Durham Police Department, Durham County Sheriff’s Office, Cary Police Department, Garner Police Department, and NC Department of Probation and Parole.

The federal prosecution was handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney Shawn Evans and Assistant United States Attorney Denise Walker.  Mr. Evans is a prosecutor with the Wake County District Attorney’s Office.  Wake County District Attorney Colon Willoughby has assigned Mr. Evans to the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force criminal matters.  His assignment to the United States Attorney’s Office has been made possible by grants funded by the Governor’s Crime Commission.