Shakeim Weeks, a 30-year-old Raleigh gang member, has been sentenced to a 14-year prison term for his role in a fentanyl trafficking scheme that spanned from the west to east coasts. Weeks previously pleaded guilty on February 27 to conspiracy charges related to the distribution of the potent synthetic opioid, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Court documents revealed that Weeks, identified as a member of the United Blood Nation gang, was involved in drug trafficking operations that brought fentanyl pills from California and Arizona to Raleigh for distribution. The pills were reportedly concealed in children's Lego boxes to disguise their contents.
On June 7, 2024, law enforcement officials arrested Weeks after locating approximately 100,000 fentanyl pills—weighing nearly 11 kilograms—concealed in his luggage following his return from a suspected resupply trip to Arizona.
The outcome of Weeks's case was supported by the efforts of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a multi-agency initiative targeting major drug traffickers and criminal organizations that threaten public safety. This broad interagency collaboration brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, combining resources and expertise through an intelligence-driven approach to disrupt and dismantle high-level criminal networks.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announced the sentencing delivered by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III; the case saw joint investigative efforts from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Raleigh and Durham Police Departments, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey L. Peaden served as the prosecutor for the government.
