Smithfield Drug Dealer Sentenced To 45 Years Imprisonment

RALEIGH - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court today, Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever, III sentenced GREGORY DEVON OBEY, 29, of Smithfield, North Carolina, to 540 months imprisonment followed by 8 years supervised release. 

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on August 8, 2012, charging OBEY with one count of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute 280 Grams or More of Cocaine Base (Crack) and 5 kilograms or More of Cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846, 1 count of Distribution of Cocaine, 1 count of Aiding and Abetting Distribution of Cocaine, and 5 counts of Distribution of 28 Grams or More of Cocaine Base (Crack), in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841.  On January 25, 2013, after a 3 day trial, a jury convicted OBEY of a drug conspiracy and all seven drug distribution counts.

The evidence in the case demonstrated that from at least March 2011, up to and including June 13, 2012, OBEY was involved in a drug conspiracy with several other individuals in the Smithfield area in a loose conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine.  Specifically, OBEY made statements immediately after his arrest and identified his sources of supply in the Smithfield area.  All told, as part of the conspiracy, OBEY was held accountable for over 45 kilograms of crack cocaine and 18 kilograms of powder cocaine.  The evidence further showed that from August 30, 2011, up to and including June 13, 2012, OBEY sold cocaine and crack cocaine on 7 different occasions to a confidential informant working for the Smithfield Police Department and Johnston County Sheriff’s Office.  Other sources of information identified OBEY as a drug dealer as well.  Finally, during the trial, evidence was introduced showing that OBEY was involved in threats made to the confidential informant in July 2012.   

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Smithfield Police Department, the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant United States Attorney Rudy E. Renfer represented the government.