Daryl Cromartie, a 32-year-old resident of Wilmington, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for possession of a firearm by a felon and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and phencyclidine (PCP). Cromartie entered a guilty plea to these charges on February 27, 2024.

The case involved an investigation that began in February 2023 by the Wilmington Police Department (WPD), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office (NHCSO) into Cromartie's drug trafficking activities. Between February 23 and July 14, law enforcement used confidential informants to conduct controlled purchases of narcotics from Cromartie. These transactions mostly took place outside his residence in Wilmington after communications via cellphone.

On July 17, the FBI executed a search warrant at Cromartie's home where he admitted to having various controlled substances, a handgun, and U.S. currency. Authorities seized several items including 8.01 grams of cocaine, 42.8 grams of crack cocaine, 55.2 grams of heroin/fentanyl, and other drugs along with $4,360 in cash and a loaded handgun.

Michael F. Easley Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced the sentencing carried out by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The case was investigated by the FBI along with local law enforcement agencies WPD and NHCSO and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Leonard Champaign.