A federal jury has convicted Derrick O’Brian Hamlett, a resident of Lynchburg, Virginia, on several charges related to drug trafficking and firearms possession. The charges include possession with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and 4-anilino-N-phenethylpiperidine (ANPP). Additionally, Hamlett was found guilty of possessing a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime and as a convicted felon.
The conviction follows an incident on October 26, 2022, when Hamlett was stopped for a traffic violation in Vance County. During the stop, authorities detected the smell of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. A subsequent search uncovered a backpack containing illegal substances and firearms. Inside the locked section of the backpack were methamphetamine, cocaine, over 100 dosage units of fentanyl, heroin, ANPP, a stolen pistol with a loaded extended magazine, along with Hamlett’s identification documents.
Hamlett's prior felony convictions prohibit him from legally possessing firearms. He now faces significant legal consequences including a mandatory minimum sentence of five years imprisonment and could face up to life imprisonment upon sentencing.
The announcement was made by Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina after U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III accepted the jury's verdict. The investigation was conducted by the Vance County Sheriff’s Office with support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Sampson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jermaine Sellers and David Beraka led the prosecution.
