Smithfield Man Found Guilty of Heroin and Methamphetamine Distribution Charges and Maintaining a Dwelling

GREENVILLE – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that yesterday, FRANKY LOUIS HOSTON, 26, was found guilty in a jury trial of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, and maintaining a dwelling for the purpose of distributing, manufacturing and using methamphetamine and heroin.

HOSTON, along with two others, was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 15, 2015.

In late spring, 2015, a Smithfield Police Officer received information from a confidential source who stated that there was a male in Smithfield that sells heroin. This confidential source stated that the individual was selling multiple ounces of heroin.

At the beginning of June, 2015, another officer of the Smithfield Police Department, received an anonymous tip regarding illegal drug activity HOSTON’s residence on Boyette Circle in Smithfield, North Carolina.  As a result, the Smithfield Police Department began to conduct surveillance on the residence.  Just as the first concerned citizen noted, Smithfield officers observed multiple vehicles briefly stopping for short times at the residence. 

A roadside trash pull was conducted by Smithfield Police Department on July 16, 2015, at the residence.  Numerous items commonly associated with narcotics were discovered.  A search warrant of the residence was obtained and on July 17, 2015, officers from the Smithfield Police Department arrived at the residence to serve the search warrant.  

The defendant along with two others were discovered in the residence.  During the search of Hoston’s room, officers found a Diamondback DB380 handgun with six rounds of .380 ammunition in the magazine, and two cell phones. Additionally, officers located two bindles of suspected heroin on a counter between living room and kitchen.  While shining their light in the common area, multiple crystals consistent with methamphetamine were illuminated on the floor. In addition, there was a plastic cup containing approximately three fourths of an ounce of crystal methamphetamine in the coffee table. Approximately $6,000.00 was located along with ammunition and heroin in a kitchen cabinet.  A large wrapper with meth crystal residue and large scale were located in the laundry room.

In addition to locating a large amount of methamphetamine, heroin, currency, and two loaded pistols in one of the bedrooms, officers located methamphetamine and marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a phone, and $531.00, in another bedroom.

The case was investigated by the Smithfield Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, North Carolina State Crime Lab, and the Johnston County Sheriff's Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Burnette handled the prosecution on behalf of the Eastern District of North Carolina.