Nashville, N.C. Man Sentenced for Drug Conspiracy

RALEIGH – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that today in federal court, United States District Judge James C. Dever III sentenced MICHAEL LEE DRAKE, 52, of Nashville, North Carolina to 120 months imprisonment, followed by 8 years of supervised release.

DRAKE was named in an Indictment filed on April 19, 2018 charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five hundred (500) grams or more of cocaine and a quantity of cocaine base (crack).  On June 18, 2018, DRAKE pled guilty to the conspiracy. 

According to the investigation, beginning in 2009 through October 29, 2015, DRAKE distributed powder cocaine and cocaine base (crack) throughout Nash and Edgecombe Counties.  In 2015, law enforcement made a controlled purchase of multiple ounces of cocaine from DRAKE.  After observing a drug transaction at DRAKE’s home, law enforcement executed a search warrant at that home.  As a result, officers found powder cocaine, cocaine base (crack), $43,000 in United States currency, and firearms and ammunition.  

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Nash County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Dena King represented the government.