Armed Drug Trafficker Who Previously Shot a Wilmington Officer Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Federal Prison

NEW BERN, N.C. – Kenneth Brown, 41, of Wilmington North Carolina, was sentenced yesterday to 87 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base, five counts of distribution of a quantity of cocaine base and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Brown, a validated member of the United Blood Nation gang, was convicted in 2003 on state charges for shooting at a law enforcement officer and received a sentence of more than 15 years in state prison.

According to court documents, evidence presented in court and other documents, on June 23, 2021, Brown sold 13 grams of cocaine base to an undercover Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agent in Brunswick County.  During the deal, Brown indicated that he was involved in trafficking guns to New York.  On June 30, 2021, Brown sold an additional 13 grams of cocaine base to the same ATF agent.  Brown and the agent discussed the sale of a firearm.  Brown pulled out a loaded Glock 9mm handgun.  The agent attempted to purchase the gun, but Brown declined to sell it.  Brown indicated that the gun was registered to his girlfriend.  Brown, as a convicted felon, is prohibited from possessing a firearm.  Brown sold the agent 26 grams of cocaine base on August 5 and 18.  During the last deal, Brown did not produce the amount agreed initially so he retrieved some additional cocaine and cooked it into cocaine base.  Brown’s girlfriend who was present during the deal said that Brown was a master crack cooker and she had seen him do on a number of occasions.

On October 9, 2021, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a car driven by Brown.  During a search of the car, law enforcement found a loaded HK 9mm handgun.

On March 15, 2022, Brown was arrested on federal charges and found in possession of a revolver.  On March 16, 2022, law enforcement served two search warrants at residences associated with Brown.  During a search at an apartment in Wilmington, law enforcement found a loaded Glock 9mm handgun, a loaded rifle with a large capacity magazine and more than 100 rounds of additional ammunition.  During a search of a different apartment in Wilmington, law enforcement found more than 65 grams of cocaine. 

This is part of operation “Golfer” which is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the New Hanover and Brunswick County Sheriffs’ Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo and Gabe Diaz prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:22-CR-00011-FL.

###