Whitakers, North Carolina Man Sentenced to 210 Months for Leadership in Crack Cocaine Conspiracy

RALEIGH—United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court yesterday ANTONIO NICHOLSON, 29, was sentenced by United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle to 210 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack), and a quantity of marijuana. NICHOLSON has been in federal custody since his arrest on September 30, 2009. He pled guilty to the charge on September 16, 2010.

On December 1, 2008, and December 3, 2008, investigators coordinated controlled purchases of approximately two ounces of crack cocaine in exchange from NICHOLSON. The investigation also revealed that NICHOLSON was accountable for the distribution of more than 17 kilograms of crack cocaine. According to investigators, from at least late 2007 until January 2009, NICHOLSON was purchasing large amounts of powder cocaine, cooking it into crack cocaine, and pushing it out into the community through his distributors.

This case is part of Operation Burnout, which has been an ongoing investigation of numerous drug traffickers in and around Halifax County and Nash County. To date, approximately 35 drug dealers have convicted as a part of this operation.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Josh Royster served as the prosecutor for the government.