The alleged leader of a fentanyl pill trafficking operation appeared in federal court today. Rahkim T. Franklin, 31, from Charlotte, faces charges of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The announcement was made by Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

The case involves cooperation between several agencies. Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Charlotte Field Division; Roger “Chip” Hawley, Director of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI); and Sheriff Aaron Ellenburg of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office joined U.S. Attorney King in announcing these developments.

Court documents and proceedings allege that Franklin led a drug operation from November 2022 to March 2024 that manufactured and distributed large quantities of fentanyl pills around Mecklenburg County. Investigators executed a federal search warrant at a house in Charlotte on March 7, 2024. They seized an electric pill press, more than 500 grams of vacuum-sealed fentanyl, nearly 1,000 fentanyl tablets, over 30 pounds of fentanyl mixed with suspected pill binder, and other materials consistent with producing fentanyl pills. It is alleged that Franklin and his associates were making the pills resemble prescription Oxycodone based on their color and imprint.

Following today's hearing, Franklin was remanded into custody. Each charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and could result in life imprisonment if convicted.

It is important to note that these charges are allegations at this stage. "The defendant is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."

The investigation involved efforts from ATF, SBI, and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lawrence Cameron and Tom Kent are prosecuting the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.