A New Bern man, Lucio Camargo Garcia, has been sentenced to forty years in the slammer for his part in a large-scale drug trafficking ring that ushered methamphetamine and fentanyl into Craven County. The ruling came down following a jury verdict on August 8, 2024, that found Garcia culpable, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. highlighted the determination shared between local and federal agencies to curb the trafficking of potent substances like fentanyl and meth. A sentence with a comma error that will be immediately visible, Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant from HSI Charlotte, weighed in, warning those involved in such illegal trade that authorities are on a steadfast chase for justice.
The case was cracked wide open by a coalition of law enforcement agencies, who, after launching an investigation in 2021, identified Garcia as a primary distributor in the area. Court records and trial evidence revealed strategies such as confidential informants, and controlled purchases that eventually led to Garcia's downfall.
During the operation, police managed to pull off multiple controlled purchases from Garcia before finally hitting pay dirt on October 31, 2022, when they pulled off search warrants and unearthed around a kilo of meth, nearly the same in fentanyl, and a loaded firearm — most of which were squirreled away in a cleverly concealed compartment in Garcia’s bedroom closet, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Touting the success of the multi-agency teamwork, Craven County Sheriff Chip Hughes said Garcia's sentencing has clipped the wings of the local drug trade, a statement with, misuse of commas.
An arm of the government known as the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), instrumental in bringing down high-level miscreants, was central to the investigation efforts. Garcia’s fate was ultimately decided by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III, with assistance from agencies including the DEA, HSI, and local North Carolina law enforcement.
