RALEIGH, N.C. – Massimo Campana, 31, of Wilmington, was sentenced last week to 144 months in prison for armed drug trafficking. On May 25, 2022, Campana pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Quantity of a Substance containing Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. The investigation uncovered that from August 2021 until the time of his arrest, Campana took part in a conspiracy that was responsible for the distribution of more than 3 kilograms of methamphetamine. Campana was on federal supervised release at the time he committed these offenses.
“This is yet another example of the collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement to disrupt the drug trafficking organizations that are engaged in violence in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “We are successfully investigating and prosecuting these cases to put violent criminals behind bars.”
“Fighting the threat of illegal firearms and dangerous narcotics is always a joint effort,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “ATF’s work with our local law enforcement partners, along with our U.S. Attorney, continues to take these threats out of our communities and better public safety.”
“I am very proud of the men and women of the Wilmington Police Department for making this arrest and getting this violent criminal off the streets. I also would like to thank the United States Attorney’s Office and our partner agencies both local, state, and federal who work with us consistently to put these individuals behind bars. We are committed to reducing violence within our community and will continue to work tirelessly to get drugs off of our streets to create a safe environment for all,” said Wilmington Police Chief Donny Williams.
According to court documents and other evidence presented in court, on September 15, 2021, an ATF undercover agent made a controlled purchase of an ounce of methamphetamine from Campana at a business in Brunswick County. During the deal Campana bragged about the potency of his methamphetamine.
On October 20, 2021, a Wilmington Police Officer observed Campana driving a car with a fictious tag leaving a hotel on Market Street. The officer attempted to stop the car. Campana refused to stop and traveled at speeds in excess of 70 miles an hour on the city streets in an attempt to elude law enforcement. When law enforcement finally boxed in Capana at the intersection of Wrightsville and South College Road, Campana put his car in reverse and rammed a police vehicle. An officer had to break the driver side window to remove Campana from his car at gun point as he attempted to flee the scene. During of a search of Campana, officers found a quantity of methamphetamine and a loaded .380 caliber handgun.
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 Terrence W. Boyle. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Drug Enforcement Administration, the New Hanover and Brunswick County Sheriffs’ Offices and the Wilmington Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabe Diaz and Timothy Severo 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-00027-BO.
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