Akeem Netron Holder Evans, a 36-year-old man from Raleigh, has been sentenced to 50 years in federal prison after a federal jury found him guilty on multiple counts of narcotics trafficking earlier this year. In a recent statement obtained by the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle described Evans' operation as large-scale, accusing him of exploiting relationships and pumping deadly drugs into communities.
The Raleigh-based drug kingpin was convicted of conspiracy, possession, and intent to distribute illegal drugs including cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, and more. Boyle emphasized that the harsh sentence handed down should stand as a warning to others, stating, “This sentence, spending the next 50 years in federal prison, makes it crystal clear: if you sell drugs here, we will find you, we will convict you, and you will spend decades behind bars. This Big Shark Bad Boy won’t hurt our families and children for a long time,” as per official website of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Investigations into Evans' activities revealed his deep involvement in drug distribution and his readiness to use any means necessary, including convincing his former youth football coach to transport cocaine. Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce highlighted the case as an example of strong collaboration between various agencies, expressing satisfaction with the outcome. Evans' organization, according to court documents, was found to be distributing at least 11 kilograms of cocaine, over 4.8 kilograms of crack cocaine, fentanyl, oxycodone and marijuana in the Raleigh area. His manipulation of personal relationships signaled the lengths he would go to maintain and expand his drug network.
FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina, James C. Barnacle Jr., stressed the importance of the partnership between federal and local agencies in addressing drug-related violence in the community. "For years, Akeem Evans peddled poison to his own community without a second thought. He’ll have the next 50 years in federal prison to reflect on his actions. This case is a direct result of the FBI's relentless determination to partner with state and local departments to rid our neighborhoods of drug-fueled gang violence," Barnacle told the Department of Justice. The investigation showcased Evans' use of encrypted communications and counter-surveillance measures to try to evade law enforcement detection. During a search warrant executed in March 2022, significant quantities of narcotics and firearms were seized from several locations linked to Evans and his associates.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley H. Foxx, Toby Lathan and Robert Dodson. Federal authorities said the investigation involved cooperation between the FBI and the Raleigh Police Department and resulted in Evans’ conviction and sentence for his role in a large-scale drug trafficking operation.
