Fayetteville Man Sentenced for Drug Distribution and Firearm Offenses

RALEIGH – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that today in federal court, United States District Judge James C. Dever III sentenced DEMETRIE EVERETT, 24, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, to 72 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.

EVERETT was named in an Indictment filed on June 13, 2018, charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl, distribution of heroin, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  On October 18, 2018, EVERETT pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl,  distribution of heroin, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 

According to the investigation, EVERETT distributed controlled substances which led to an immediate opioid overdose in April 2018.  Following this overdose, and during the course of the investigation, law enforcement conducted two purchases of narcotics from EVERETT including heroin and fentanyl.  A subsequent search warrant executed at EVERETT’s residence revealed additional controlled substances, as well as a firearm.

This case was implemented through the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.  This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices in those communities on a sustained basis to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Fayetteville Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  Assistant United States Attorney Lucy Partain represented the government.