Bolivia Man Sentenced To 18 Years After Conviction Of Narcotics Offenses

GREENVILLE – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that today, DAVIN LAMONT SMITH, 43, of Bolivia, was sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.  Judge Howard sentenced SMITH to 216 months of imprisonment followed by 6 years of supervised release. 

SMITH was charged in a six-count superseding indictment on March 22, 2017, and pled guilty to four counts on April 11, 2018. 

Beginning in April 2016, SMITH distributed cocaine in and around Bolivia, North Carolina.  Between July and September 2016, a confidential informant (CI) purchased cocaine from SMITH four times.  Other informants reported seeing the defendant possess firearms.  Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents obtained a search warrant for SMITH’s residence, where they found firearms, ammunition, and marijuana.  Later, SMITH admitted to another informant that he had additional firearms and had previously shot at law enforcement officers.

SMITH was previously federally convicted of distribution of 3.5 grams of cocaine base, possession of a firearm by a felon, and using and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime and sentenced to 138 months’ imprisonment.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office.   The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Blondel for the Government.