Wake County Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison

GREENSBORO, N.C. - A Cary man was sentenced today in federal court in Greensboro for distributing heroin to a Durham resident who later died of an overdose, announced United States Attorney Matthew G.T. Martin of the Middle District of North Carolina.

The Honorable William L. Osteen, Jr., sentenced Kane Conrad GRAVES, 30, of Cary, North Carolina, to a 120 month term of imprisonment on charges of distributing heroin. In addition, GRAVES was ordered to serve three years of supervised release after completing his sentence. GRAVES pleaded guilty in June 2020.

According to court documents, in August 2017, an overdose victim was found deceased in a Durham apartment. An autopsy was later performed and the Medical Examiner determined that the victim died of “acute heroin and alcohol intoxication.” Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from the apartment complex which showed the victim letting a male, later identified as GRAVES, into the building. Investigators also obtained text messages from the victim’s cell phone, which indicated the victim sent a Facebook message seeking “pills.” GRAVES responded that he could ask around for pills but he currently had “dog food on deck.” (“Dog food” is a street name for heroin). The text messages between the two continued up to the point that GRAVES arrived at the apartment. The text messages further show that victim arranged and paid for an Uber driver to pick up GRAVES in Apex and transport him to Durham.

GRAVES was later interviewed and admitted that the victim did contact him a few months before her death for the purpose of obtaining controlled substances. He further admitted to taking an Uber from Cary to the victim’s apartment on the night of the death, but claimed he did not bring any drugs.

U.S. Attorney Martin commends the work of the Durham County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which investigated the case, Assistant Attorney General Benjamin Zellinger of the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office, and Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. DeFranco.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

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