Courtney Linwood “Blaze” Matthews, a 40-year-old Fayetteville man, received a 40-year prison sentence for orchestrating a large drug trafficking ring in Eastern North Carolina. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of North Carolina, Matthews was responsible for distributing over 839 kilograms of cocaine, 9.5 kilograms of heroin, and 3.4 kilograms of fentanyl throughout the region. In addition to drug trafficking charges, Matthews also confessed to money laundering and illegal firearms possession.
U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle highlighted the severity of Matthews' crimes, "Linwood “Blaze” Matthews pleaded guilty to possessing and selling enough fentanyl to kill most of Fayetteville along with 9.5 kg of heroin and 839 kg of cocaine which is 1,854 pounds and is nearly the weight of a Mitsubishi Mirage,” as stated by the Justice Department. “Blaze flooded the area with dangerous opioids and narcotics that hurt Fayetteville families. Now thanks to their tireless work, our law enforcement partners have put that fire out making the community safer.” Matthews had a prior conviction from 2008 for conspiracy to distribute various drugs, adding to the gravity of his criminal history, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Investigations by the Fayetteville Police Department, the FBI, and other agencies brought Matthews' activities to light. They unearthed his large-scale operations, which included a controlled purchase of one kilogram of cocaine and subsequent follow-up that revealed a complex distribution network. Law enforcement recovered significant amounts of drugs, cash totaling over $213,000, firearms, and incriminating business records during the operations.
Matthews' illicit empire extended beyond narcotics; he was running an alleged car rental business phonily financed with drug money. The evidence presented in court revealed that Matthews was intimately involved in his enterprise, orchestrating activities, maintaining stash houses, and ensuring a steady flow of illegal substances into the community. The case was brought to a close with the collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement entities, including the Internal Revenue Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Webb handling prosecution duties.
