RALEIGH - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that today in federal court, United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced Lomachael Antonio Grice, 32, of New Bern to 108 months imprisonment, followed by 4 years of supervised release.
District Attorney Scott Thomas said, “This is another case in our ongoing effort to fight illegal drug activity in our district. CNET has been very proactive in identifying and investigating drug dealers operating in our area. We have had a good working relationship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office as we work together to prosecute drug dealers in state and federal courts."
Grice was named in a Criminal Information filed on March 18, 2014, charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base (crack) and a quantity of cocaine from 2006 until Aug. 30, 2013. On July 17, 2014, Grice pled guilty to that charge.
According to the investigation, law enforcement agencies in the Eastern and Middle Districts of North Carolina worked together to identify GRICE’s source of supply who was traveling from the Chatham County area to deliver large amounts of cocaine to GRICE and other drug dealers in the Craven County area. After GRICE’s supplier was arrested, further investigation lead to GRICE’s arrest following a controlled delivery operation where GRICE handed money to a confidential informant in exchange for cocaine. Further investigation revealed that GRICE was responsible for the distribution of multiple kilograms of powder and crack cocaine in the Craven County over a time period spanning from 2006.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Coastal Narcotics Enforcement Team, a multi-agency task force comprised of agents from the Bridgeton Police Department, Craven County Sheriff’s Office, Havelock Police Department, Jones County Sheriff’s Office, New Bern Police Department, Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office, River Bend Police Department, and Trent Woods Police Department. These agencies were assisted by the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Special Assistant United States Attorney Augustus Willis represented the government. Mr. Willis is a prosecutor with the District 3-B District Attorney’s Office encompassing Carteret, Craven and Pamlico Counties. District Attorney Scott Thomas has assigned him to the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force criminal matters. Mr. Wills’ position is funded through a grant provided by the Governor’s Crime Commission.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
