Wilmington Gang Members Sentenced for Heroin Distribution

RALEIGH – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that yesterday, United States District Judge James C. Dever III sentenced DEANDRE SWEET, 27, of Wilmington to 105 months of imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release.  Additionally, yesterday, KYERIC SWEET, 25, of Wilmington was sentenced to 90 months of imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release.

On September 19, 2016, in a joint investigation, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force Gang Unit and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office Vice Division arranged an undercover purchase of heroin from DEANDRE SWEET.  When DEANDRE SWEET arrived in a parking lot in Wilmington to complete the sale, law enforcement stopped his rental car and found 500 bags of heroin during a search of the vehicle.  DEANDRE SWEET was then arrested.

According to the investigation, DEANDRE SWEET imported more than 500 grams of heroin from New York and New Jersey for distribution.  A portion of this heroin was provided to gang members in the Wilmington area.

In the same joint investigation, law enforcement conducted several undercover purchases from KYERIC SWEET between June and October 2017.  On October 12, 2017, law enforcement arrested KYERIC SWEET in possession of a quantity of heroin and more than $2,500.  According to law enforcement, KYERIC SWEET is a validated gang member.

These cases are part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Investigation entitled Tooth Fairy targeting gangs and heroin distribution in southeast North Carolina.  This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, Wilmington Police Department Gang Unit and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Severo handled the prosecution of this case for the government.