Smithfield Man Convicted Of Federal Drug Charges

RALEIGH - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court yesterday, Calvin Dwight MITCHELL, 27, of Smithfield, North Carolina, was convicted for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy as well as distributing cocaine.

On August 8, 2012, a Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment that charged one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) and one count of distributing cocaine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) and Title 18, United States Code Section 2, on May 24, 2012.  On February 26, 2013, after a two-day trial, a jury found MITCHELL guilty of both counts.  Based on these convictions, MITCHELL faces up to 60 years in prison.

The evidence in the case demonstrated that from at least March 2001, up to and including May 24, 2012, MITCHELL and at least two other individuals conspired to distribute cocaine.  In his statement, MITCHELL admitted that he had obtained approximately 80 kilograms of crack cocaine from his sources of supply for re-distribution.  During the investigation, a controlled buy of cocaine was conducted from MITCHELL which was recorded with an audio/video device.  In addition, the evidence established that, upon his arrest, MITCHELL confessed to being a drug dealer and named approximately two other co-conspirators with whom he had been trafficking crack cocaine. 

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Smithfield Police Department, the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant United States Attorney Rudy E. Renfer represented the government.