FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MONDAY - March 8, 2010

SUPPLY DRUG DEALER SENTENCED

RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court today Senior United States District Judge W. Earl Britt sentenced DUSTY LEE LEGGETT, 28, of Supply, North Carolina, to 60 months’ imprisonment followed by five years supervised release.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on February 13, 2009. On December 7, 2009, LEGGETT pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841 (a)(1) and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A). On June 13, 2008, an investigation was initiated after law enforcement received information that illegal narcotics were being distributed from LEGGETT’s residence. As officers arrived at the residence, they saw LEGGETT looking out the front door and then rush inside. As the officers went inside the residence, they heard the toilet flush. A residential search revealed oxycodone pills, marijuana, a .22 caliber rifle with ammunition and shotgun shells. Further search of LEGGETT’s vehicle reveled a stolen, loaded 9mm handgun with a loaded extended magazine, cocaine, and digital scales.

On May, 20, 2009, officers executed a search warrant at a residence in Shallotte, North Carolina, where cocaine already packaged for sale, Roxicodone and Zanax, digital scales, a .40 caliber handgun, and ammunition were seized. It was learned that the items belonged to LEGGETT.

This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods(PSN) which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office; and the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Ethan Ontjes represented the government.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.