ELIZABETH CITY – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that, United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced Lewis Alexander Hines, 26, of Wilmington to 120 months of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release.
Hines was named in a five-count Superseding Indictment filed on July 25, 2017. On October 5, 2017, Hines pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 28 Grams or More of Cocaine Base.
In January 2017, agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force (FBI) and the Wilmington Police Department Gang Unit (WPD) initiated an investigation into the drug distribution activities of Hines. A confidential source (CS) advised authorities that he/she could purchase drugs from Hines. Between January 9, 2017 and February 2, 2017 the CS at the direction of law enforcement made four undercover purchase of drugs from Hines. The CS purchased 251 bindles of heroin (5.02 grams of heroin) for $1,120, 147 bindles of heroin (2.9 grams of heroin) for $675, 29 grams of cocaine base (crack) for $1,400 and 14 grams of crack cocaine for $700. All of the sales occurred in Wilmington, North Carolina.
On February 6, 2017, law enforcement served a search warrant at Hines’ residence. The search uncovered 36 grams of crack cocaine, digital scales, one Glock magazine, various rounds of ammunition, and empty bindles of heroin.
Hines has prior convictions in North Carolina State Court for discharging a weapon into an occupied property and possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine and a prior Federal conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The investigation was conducted by the Wilmington Police Department Gang Unit and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Street’s Task Force which is comprised of the Wilmington Police Department, New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina Highway Patrol, Onslow County Sheriff’s Office,
Jacksonville Police Department, Onslow County Sheriff’s Office and the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Severo handled the prosecution of this case for the government.
About Author
