Harold Vernard Greene, Jr., 45, was handed a 24-year prison sentence for his role in a drug trafficking operation that involved passing a kilogram of cocaine in a car where three children were present. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina reported that this is Greene's third federal conviction in this district.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Greene's criminal endeavors had not ceased despite previous sentences for cocaine trafficking and possessing drugs while in federal prison. After an undercover operation in Wilmington in March 2023, law enforcement observed Greene participating in the illicit drug exchange. It was during that operation that agents saw him transfer a package, later found to contain cocaine, to a vehicle driven by his girlfriend with minors inside.
The incident led to a search warrant for Greene's apartment, where authorities discovered a loaded firearm, substantial amounts of cash, drug packaging materials, four cell phones, along with psilocybin gummies and marijuana products. Investigations into the seized phones revealed direct communication with suspected drug traffickers from Mexico.
Commenting on the case, U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. said, "Greene is a frequent-flyer federal felon with direct ties to Mexico based drug traffickers." He emphasized the commitment of the state in being "relentless in pursuing cases all the way to the foreign supplier." Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division, Robert J. Murphy, depicted Greene as having "wanton disregard for the safety of our community," a view seconded by Wilmington Police Chief Donny Williams who criticized the perpetrator for placing his illegal operations over the public's well-being, as per the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The prosecution was a part of the efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), a coalition aiming to target high-level criminal networks. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Lemon, with the investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), and the Wilmington Police Department. U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III delivered the sentencing.
