A Youngsville man, aged 47, received a hefty prison sentence for his involvement in a robust drug trafficking operation. Samuel McCoy Oakley, Jr., was sentenced to 19 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with an intent to distribute significant quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana, as well as firearms offenses in connection with his drug trafficking activities. The Justice Department detailed this outcome in court documents publicly released yesterday.
Law enforcement agencies, initiated a probe into a drug trafficking organization in September 2022, where Oakley's residence was a focus of their surveillance. While under the gaze of the DEA and local law enforcement, unidentified males were frequently spotted with bags entering and leaving the property. Following their departure, these vehicles would often be stopped and found to contain drugs and cash. Engaged in surveillance, the DEA also intercepted wiretap communications that incriminated Oakley was caught discussing narcotics transactions, including the exchange of fentanyl and cocaine.
During one significant interception, Oakley referred to acquiring "knowledge," a code word for a brand of fentanyl, as mentioned on U.S. Attorney's Office. Following this exchange, a courier used by Oakley was monitored driving from Charlotte to his house and then flying out to New York shortly after their meeting. Geo-location data later confirmed the courier's presence in New York and New Jersey. Upon his return to North Carolina, law enforcement apprehended him, uncovering contraband that included over 5 kilograms of cocaine and hundreds of grams of fentanyl, branded, as Oakley had described, with the word "Knowledge."
A search warrant executed on July 19, 2023, resulted in the discovery of additional contraband at Oakley's residence. They found more than 2,000 grams of cocaine hidden in the attic insulation and, including a semiautomatic rifle, two handguns, a stash of ammunition, and in excess of $35,000 in cash. Throughout the investigation, it was determined that Oakley played a pivotal role in moving vast amounts of drugs, over a period beginning in July 2022 through July 2023, Oakley was responsible for distributing over 168 kilograms of cocaine and sizable volumes of fentanyl and marijuana.
This case was handled as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program, a hallmark partnership that combines the efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement to combat high-level drug trafficking and organized crime. Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Daniel P. Bubar, announced the sentence after U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle delivered Oakley's fate. Contributions to the case's investigatory success included the DEA, the Henderson Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and the State Bureau of Investigation, with the prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey L. Peaden.
