Halifax County Man Sentenced to 90 Months for Participating in Drug Conspiracy Since 2003

WILMINGTON, NC—United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court on December 9, 2010, FREDERICK ONEAL BAILEY, 37, of Enfield, North Carolina, was sentenced by Senior United States District Judge James C. Fox to 90 months’ imprisonment followed by five years’ supervised release for his participation in a conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack) and five kilograms or more of cocaine powder. BAILEY has been in federal custody since being arrested by federal authorities on August 11, 2009. According to investigators, BAILEY'S drug trafficking activities date back to 2003, and BAILEY was accountable for the distribution of more than 6,000 grams of cocaine base (crack) and 26,000 grams of cocaine powder. BAILEY was arrested after investigators with Halifax County Sheriff's Office and the FBI made two controlled purchases of cocaine base (crack) from BAILEY. On December 31, 2009, BAILEY sold 49.2 grams of cocaine base (crack) to law enforcement in exchange for $3,200.00, and then on January 7, 2009, sold 49.3 grams of cocaine base (crack) to law enforcement in exchange for $2,600.00. Both controlled purchases were captured on video and depict BAILEY distributing the narcotics.

This case was part of OPERATION BURNOUT, the ongoing joint investigation by the Halifax County Sheriff's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation targeting drug traffickers in and around the Halifax County, North Carolina area. Twenty-six drug traffickers have now been convicted and sentenced as a part of this investigation.

In response to this case, Mr. Holding stated, "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 them in our effort to dismantle the drug distribution network operating in and around Halifax County."

Assistant United States Attorney Josh Royster served as the prosecutor for the government.