FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

THURSDAY - March 5, 2009

HERTFORD MAN SENTENCED TO MORE THAN
14 YEARS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING

WILMINGTON - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court on March 3, 2009, Senior United States District Judge James C. Fox, sentenced WADELLE HARVEY, 47, of Hertford, North Carolina, to 172 months’ imprisonment followed by five years supervised release.

A Criminal Information was filed on July 24, 2008, charging conspiring to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base (crack). On October 7, 2008, HARVEY pled guilty to the charge. In January, 2008, deputies from the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office, acting on information suggesting HARVEY was again trafficking in drugs, arranged a controlled purchase from HARVEY. HARVEY supplied 10.7 grams of crack during that buy. Further investigation revealed that since his release from federal custody on drug trafficking charges in November, 2001, HARVEY was accountable for distribution and/or possession of 634.23 grams of crack cocaine and 1,637.58 grams of cocaine powder.

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Ethan Ontjes served as prosecutor for the government

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.