Armed drug trafficker receives more than 13 years in federal prison

WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Wilmington man was sentenced on September 9, 2020, to 165 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture of substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and a quantity of crack cocaine and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents and evidence presented in court, Christopher Minto, 37, was involved in the importation and distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin into Wilmington between July and August 2019. On August 5, 2019, New Hanover County Narcotics Detectives observed a car in which Minto was a passenger leave Minto’s residence and drive to the McDonald’s parking lot on Gordon Road. Following a traffic stop, detectives searched the car and found quantities of crack and cocaine in the car and another passenger had 86 grams of pure crystal methamphetamine on his person. The source of all these drugs was Minto. Detectives then conducted a search of Minto’s residence on Ovalberry Court in New Hanover County. Law enforcement found another 114 grams of methamphetamine, 10 ounces of cocaine and a loaded .25 caliber handgun. The investigation revealed that Minto was responsible for distributing more than a ¼-kilogram of methamphetamine, almost ½ a kilogram of cocaine and ½ an ounce of heroin from July until his arrest on August 5, 2019.

Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the New Hanover County Sherriff Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo prosecuted the case. This case was part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation “White Rabbit” focusing on a drug trafficking organization involved in the importation of heroin and methamphetamine into Eastern North Carolina.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:20-cr-00059-M.

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