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Press Release

Wilmington Man Receives 85 Months in Federal Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking Organization

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of North Carolina

WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Wilmington man was sentenced yesterday to 85 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of cocaine.

According to court documents and evidence presented in court, Nathaniel McFarland, 40, was involved in the importation and distribution of methamphetamine into Wilmington between July and August 2019.  On August 6, 2019, New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Detectives received information that McFarland was in the process of obtaining narcotics from a residence on Ovalberry Court in New Hanover County.  Detectives followed the car and performed a traffic stop on an automobile being driven by McFarland in the parking lot of McDonalds on Gordon Road.  McFarland had provided a female passenger 78 grams of pure methamphetamine as the police were approaching and a quantity of cocaine was found in the car.  The investigation uncovered the source of the methamphetamine was from Greensboro. 

Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo  prosecuted the case.  This case was part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation “White Rabbit” focusing on a drug trafficking organization involved in the importation of heroin and methamphetamine into Eastern North Carolina.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:20-cr-00076-M-1

Updated October 21, 2020

Topic
Drug Trafficking