Cocaine Trafficker From Roanoke Rapids Sentenced to 132 Months in Federal Prison

RALEIGH—United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court on October 23, 2009, ANGELO WAYNE PATTERSON, 33, of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, was sentenced by United States District Judge James C. Dever, III, to 132 months in federal prison for distributing 50 grams or more of “crack” cocaine on December 23, 2008. PATTERSON has been in federal custody since his arrest on January 14, 2009. On July 6, 2009, PATTERSON pled guilty to distributing 50 grams or more of “crack” cocaine.

The investigation, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, revealed that PATTERSON had been involved in distributing cocaine powder and “crack” cocaine with numerous others since as early as 2003. PATTERSON was held accountable for obtaining and/or distributing approximately 240 grams of “crack” cocaine and more than three (3) kilograms of cocaine powder. PATTERSON was arrested after selling 53.9 grams of “crack” cocaine in exchange for $2,000.00 on December 18, 2008, and 57.8 grams of “crack” cocaine in exchange for another $2,000.00 on December 23, 2008. At the time of his arrest, just weeks after these sells, PATTERSON was in possession of a loaded .45 caliber firearm and $3,497.00.

This case was part of Operation Burnout, an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Operation being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, targeting multi-level distributors of cocaine,“crack”cocaine,” and marijuana in and around Halifax County and the surrounding areas. To date, 20 people have been arrested on federal drug charges as part of this investigation, and 19 are currently in federal custody.

Mr. Holding commented, “The investigators assigned to this OCDETF case have done a tremendous job and we are grateful for their hard work in removing drug traffickers from the Halifax County community. We know there is more work to be done, and we intend on continuing to partner with these agencies in our effort to dismantle the drug distribution network operating in and around Halifax County.”

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Josh Royster served as the prosecutor for the government.