Another Defendant Sentenced in Operation Don Quixote

GREENVILLE—United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court on January 5, 2010, MICHAEL EUGENE GOODWIN, of New Hanover County, North Carolina, was sentenced by United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard to 168 months’ imprisonment followed by three years supervised release at the expiration of this sentence.

On May 27, 2009, a Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Information charging GOODWIN. On August 12, 2009, GOODWIN pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin.

On April 2, 2009, GOODWIN was arrested while he was attempting to deliver a quantity of heroin in Wilmington, North Carolina. A search of GOODWIN’s car uncovered additional heroin. GOODWIN had six prior felony convictions for narcotics offenses. This case was brought as a part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Operation entitled Don Quixote, investigating importers and multi-level distributors of cocaine, “crack” cocaine, heroin, Ecstasy, and gang activity associated with this distribution.

This organization is responsible for the importation and distribution of more than 200 kilograms of cocaine, more than 50 kilograms of “crack” cocaine, three kilograms of heroin, 20,000 Ecstacy pills and several kilograms of marijuana into Eastern North Carolina since 2003. To date, 20 people have been sentenced in federal court as a part of this operation.

Investigation of this case is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigations Safe Streets Task Force (Wilmington); the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations; the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Wilmington Police Department; the New Hanover Sheriff’s Office; the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office; the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office; the Pender County Sheriff’s Office; the Holly Ridge Police Department; the Top Sail Police Department; and the Surf City Police Department. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Severo represents the government. Mr. Severo is a prosecutor with the New Hanover District Attorney’s Office. District Attorney Ben David has assigned him to the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force criminal matters. This has been made possible by a grant funded by the Governor’s Crime Commission and the New Hanover County Commissioners.