Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
Darius Donte Privette, known as "Heavy," has been sentenced to a decade in federal prison for armed narcotics trafficking in the Raleigh, Louisburg, and Zebulon areas. The 31-year-old Zebulon resident pled guilty on November 12, 2024.
The investigation into Privette began on January 19, 2023, when Raleigh Police Department officers stopped him due to an outstanding arrest warrant. During the arrest search, authorities seized a significant amount of money and obtained a key to his vehicle.
A subsequent search of Privette's car led to the discovery of various illegal substances: tablets labeled as Percocet containing fentanyl and ANPP weighing 1.43 grams; MDMA pills weighing 8.55 grams; crack cocaine weighing 5.88 grams; cocaine weighing 9.94 grams; marijuana weighing 48.2 grams; along with a firearm, ammunition, drug paraphernalia such as digital scales and rolling papers, and $1,886 in cash.
In another investigation by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in Louisburg during October and November of 2023, Privette was involved in three controlled purchases of crack cocaine from a confidential informant.
On November 9, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Privette’s residence. Officers found large quantities of marijuana and U.S. currency in an upstairs bedroom alongside firearms. On the back porch was a drum-style magazine inside a children's backpack. Overall seizures included three firearms, one large-capacity magazine; approximately 348.8 grams of cocaine hydrochloride; nearly 898.11 grams of marijuana; a drug ledger; and $5,020 in cash.
Privette's criminal history includes convictions for possessing marijuana, carrying a concealed firearm, fleeing law enforcement with a motor vehicle, and possession with intent to sell cocaine.
Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar announced the sentencing by U.S District Judge James C. Dever III following investigations conducted by multiple agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Raleigh Police Department Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Nash County Sheriff’s Office Assistant U.S Attorney Jennifer C Nucci prosecuted this case
Court documents related information are available through the website U S District Court Eastern District North Carolina PACER using case number: 5:24-CR-00199-D-001
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