Rocky Mount Brothers Sentenced for Large-Scale Drug Trafficking Operation

RALEIGH, N.C. – Two Rocky Mount men were sentenced this week to federal prison for their roles in separate but related drug trafficking operations involving crack cocaine, fentanyl, and firearms.

“Pumping illicit narcotics—especially fentanyl—into our communities not only endangers the lives of our citizens, it is a serious federal crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. “We’re grateful to our local and federal partners who worked to shut down both operations, hold these defendants responsible, and make Nash County neighborhoods safer.”

“I’m proud of the investigators who refused to stop at the street level and took this case to a higher level,” said Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone. “Their tireless work helped take down major players in the drug trade and made our community a safer place.”

Anivel Pedro Puddy, 35, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute fentanyl and crack cocaine. His brother, Carvell Shamike Puddy, 33, of Rocky Mount, was sentenced to nine years for distributing crack and possessing a firearm in connection with drug trafficking. Both men pleaded guilty earlier this year.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Anivel Puddy was selling crack and fentanyl-laced Percocet pills in the Rocky Mount area between 2023 and early 2024. Investigators used informants and surveillance to track his activities and eventually searched multiple residences associated to him. On one occasion, officers found more than 470 grams of cocaine, fentanyl pills disguised as Percocet, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and high-capacity magazines.

Carvell Puddy ran his operation from several homes across Rocky Mount. Law enforcement bought more than 500 grams of crack from him during undercover buys. When they searched his locations, they found over 60 grams of crack, a loaded 9mm handgun with an extended magazine, and a disassembled sawed-off shotgun.

Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Nash County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie A. Childress and Caroline Webb prosecuted the case.

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 No. 5:23-CR-00252 and 5:24-CR-00092.