Enrico Ferrante Cotton, 55, a Raleigh resident, has been sentenced to nine years in prison on charges involving fentanyl and cocaine trafficking. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina stated that Cotton pleaded guilty on March 26, to distribution of a quantity of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and an additional 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Court documents reveal that a confidential source tipped off law enforcement in February 2024 about Cotton's involvement in selling narcotics in the Raleigh area. This ultimately led to a controlled purchase on March 1, 2024, where Cotton sold 32.82 grams of fentanyl for $1,500. During the exchange, Cotton and the buyer also discussed to potentially deal in cocaine.
Following these events, authorities kept track of Cotton’s activities and found out he often frequented a storage unit. It was on March 6, 2024, that a K-9 unit picked up the scent of illegal substances at Cotton's storage unit, prompting a search warrant execution. A variety of narcotics, including heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and ANPP, along with drug paraphernalia, were seized at the unit. Similarly, a subsequent search at Cotton’s home revealed additional illicit substances and items related to drug trafficking.
Daniel P. Bubar, then Acting U.S. Attorney, announced the sentencing, carried out by United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Raleigh Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci prosecuting the case. In statement obtained by the office, Bubar commended "the coordinated efforts of law enforcement to dismantle drug trafficking operations that fuel addiction and gun violence in our communities."
