Armed Drug Dealer Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

RALEIGH, N.C. – A Rocky Mount man was sentenced to 240 months in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and bribery of a public official. On October 8, 2024, Quatavious Arnez Hunter, age 32, pled guilty to the charges.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, on September 16, 2021, officers of the Rocky Mount Police Department (RMPD) conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Hunter was a passenger. Hunter was wearing a ski mask covering his entire face. Searches of Hunter’s person revealed a loaded, 9mm handgun on his hip, over $1,500 in cash, 45 bindles of heroin, one plastic bag containing approximately 5.7 grams of crack cocaine and two bags weighing a total of approximately 7.6 grams of powder cocaine.

In March 2023, while Hunter’s case was pending in federal court, he was held in the Bladen County Jail (BCJ). During this time, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began investigating claims that Hunter and another inmate were orchestrating payments to a BCJ detention officer in exchange for drugs smuggled into the jail in resealed potato chip bags. Hunter’s cell was searched and was found to contain contraband, including synthetic marijuana and a lighter. The investigation further revealed that Hunter’s girlfriend made Cash App payments to a BCJ detention officer. Upon the officer’s arrest, he admitted to making multiple deliveries of contraband to Hunter in exchange for payments via Cash App.

This case also encompassed conduct from November 2019 through November 2021. During that period, the Nash County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) and RMPD served two search warrants at Hunter’s home, resulting in the seizure of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, MDMA, marijuana and four firearms. During that period, NCSO and RMPD also encountered Hunter in multiple traffic stops during which contraband, including a stolen firearm, ammunition and small quantities of crack cocaine and heroin were seized. Additionally, in February 2021, NCSO conducted a controlled purchase of heroin from Hunter. Hunter has several prior felony convictions, including for common law robbery, robbery with a dangerous weapon and aiding and abetting the delivery of heroin. 

“Mr. Hunter put the safety of the public at risk when he dealt heroin, fentanyl and other powerful narcotics, and did so while armed,” Acting United States Attorney Daniel P Bubar stated.  “The defendant continued his criminal enterprise once incarcerated, which will simply not be tolerated.  We are incredibly grateful for the investigation conducted by our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, whose hard work is holding Mr. Hunter accountable for his significant crimes.”

“Mr. Hunter has been a problem in our community for a long time, and today that problem has been solved,” said Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone. “Our county is much safer now that he is no longer committing violent acts and trafficking drugs on our streets. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Nash County Sheriff’s Office and all law enforcement involved in this case to make is a success. As we always have, we will continue our fight against Gangs, Guns, and Drugs in Nash County and continue to serve our citizens to the best of our ability.”

Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Rocky Mount Police Department and Nash County Sheriff’s Office investigated the drug and gun offenses and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Bladen County Sheriff’s Office investigated the contraband smuggling case. Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah E. Nokes and Ashley H. Foxx prosecuted the cases.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 5:21-CR-407-1D and 7:23-CR-101-4D.

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