Fentanyl Dealer, Felon Who Possessed Firearm Sentenced to More Than 20 Years in Federal Prison

GREENSBORO, N.C. - A former resident of Alamance County was sentenced to 248 months in federal prison for fentanyl- and firearm-related charges, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina.

RAYMOND RONALD JENNINGS of Burlington, North Carolina, age 52, was sentenced to a 248-month term of imprisonment by the Honorable Thomas D. Schroeder, Chief United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. In addition to prison time, JENNINGS was ordered to serve five years of supervised release and pay a special assessment of $400.00.

According to a complaint filed in the case, law enforcement recovered 27.72 grams of fentanyl and a .40-caliber Smith & Wesson pistol from the home of JENNINGS, who was a convicted felon at the time. The grand jury charged JENNINGS with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (841(b)(1)(C); maintaining a drug involved premises, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 856(a)(1); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c); and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).

A federal jury convicted JENNINGS after a three-day trial.

“Fentanyl continues to devastate communities in the Middle District of North Carolina, and across the country,” said United States Attorney Hairston. “Cases like this show our commitment to combatting the crisis in the court of law.”

The investigation was undertaken by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) and the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tanner Kroeger and Nicole DuPré.

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