Tag: sheriff’s department
New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office Death by Distribution
Second suspect arrested in deadly fentanyl distribution case
Red the original article and watch the video on the WECT website.
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – A second suspect has been arrested in connection with a fentanyl distribution that resulted in a death, according to the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office (NHCSO).
NHCSO deputies responded to a report of an unresponsive individual on Carolina Beach Road early Sunday, Jan. 11.
Deputies found Kenneth Howard Hudgins, who was pronounced dead at the scene due to an apparent overdose.
According to NHCSO, vice detectives determined during the investigation that Dawn Blankenship and Joshua Alberto Flores were involved in the delivery of fentanyl to Hudgins on Saturday, Jan. 10.
NHCSO officials said detectives found Flores on Sunday in possession of a trafficking-level quantity of fentanyl.
He was arrested and charged with trafficking fentanyl; death by distribution by sale; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver fentanyl; and sale of fentanyl.
Flores appeared in court Thursday, Jan. 15. He received a $500,000 secured bond and was given a court-appointed attorney.
His next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 5 at 9 a.m.
Blankenship, 19, was arrested on Tuesday, Jan. 13, and charged with death by distribution; selling and delivering fentanyl; and possession with intent to sell and deliver fentanyl.
The assistant district attorney said at her court appearance Jan. 14 that Blankenship was with the victim when he died, but did not call 911 for about an hour.
Blankenship received a $250,000 bond during her court appearance and requested a court-appointed attorney.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 29 at 9 a.m.
Last of Four Individuals Charged in Death by Distribution Case
Fourth suspect in 2024 death by distribution case apprehended, held without bond
Read the original article on the WCTI12 website.
A fourth suspect has been arrested in connection with a death by distribution case that occurred in June of 2024, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.
Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Hodges Rd. in Chocowinity, in reference to a female who was unresponsive on June 23, 2024. The victim was identified as Jacquelin Halley Hodges, and deputies started giving aid until EMS arrived on the scene. Jacquelin passed away after arriving at ECU Beaufort Hospital, BCSO says.
A preliminary investigation was conducted that evening by deputies, and a thorough follow-up investigation was conducted by Detectives. BCSO Detectives presented the case to the Beaufort County Grand Jury, following the conclusion of the investigation, and indictments were issued to four individuals in April of 2025 in relation to Hodge’s death.
Justin Whitmer, 39, of Newport News, VA, was arrested on Dec. 16, Newport, and was transferred to the Beaufort County Detention Center on Dec. 22, 2025, and received no bond. Whitmer was the fourth arrest as a result of a 2024 Death by Distribution case.
He faces the following charges:
- Felony Death by Distribution
- Second Degree Murder (felony)
Brandy Kinion, 42, of Chocowinity, was arrested on April 21 and was taken to the Beaufort County Detention Center, where she received a $250,000 secured bond for the following charges:
- Involuntary Manslaughter (felony)
- Accessory after the Fact (felony)
Eric Wiggins, 42, of Chocowinity, was confined on unrelated charges and was served in the Beaufort County Detention Center on April 21. Wiggins received an additonal $250,000 secured bond for the following charges:
- Involuntary Manslaughter (felony)
Layla Hoffman, 32, of Chocowinity, was arrested at the LAX International Airport in California on May 13, after deputies coordinated with federal law enforcement to arrest her when she returned to the United States, BCSO says. Deputies flew took custody of Hoffman on June 11. Deputies transported Hoffman back to Beaufort County, where she was taken to the Beaufort County Detention Center on a $1,000,000 bond for the following charges:
- Felony Death by Distribution
- Second Degree Murder (felony)
2 facing charges in drug-related death after year-long investigation in N.C.
Read the original article and watch the video on the WMBFNews website.
SCOTLAND COUNTY, NC (WMBF) – Two women are facing charges in North Carolina after a year-long investigation into a fentanyl-related death.
Deputies with the Scotland County Sheriff’s Office arrested Laura Cox, 30, of Rockingham, North Carolina, and Allison Davis, 27, of Cheraw, South Carolina, in connection with a death in May of last year.
Cox and Davis are facing death by distribution and felony conspiracy charges. Both have been given bond: Cox was given a $1,500,000 secured bond, and Davis was given a $1,000,000 secured bond.
Narcotic investigator Lt. E. Haywood was notified in May of 2024 of a death involving the potential illegal distribution of Fentanyl, determining the person died from the illegal drug, the sheriff’s office said.
During the investigation, deputies gathered information from the county’s emergency services, the Scotland Memorial Hospital, and the Office of the Medical Examiners.
After the investigation and in-depth interviews were conducted, warrants were obtained, and the two were arrested on Dec. 1, 2025, according to the sheriff’s office.
Throughout the investigation, several law enforcement agencies assisted the Scotland County Sheriff’s Office, including Narcotic Investigator Sergeant S. Sullivan, the Rockingham Police Department, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center, along with the Chesterfield County/Cheraw South Carolina Law Enforcement Agencies.
Man facing deadly distribution charges after fatal fentanyl overdose in Davidson County, deputies said
Read the original article and watch the video on the WXII12 website.
In July, detectives with the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office said they started a narcotics death investigation after someone was found dead inside a home.
Detectives said the death appeared to be the result of a drug overdose.
During the investigation, officials identified Christopher Brandon Yokeley, 45, of Lexington, as the person who gave the drugs to the victim.
The autopsy and toxicology report determined that the official cause of death was fentanyl toxicity.
On Dec. 15, a grand jury indicted Yokeley on a charge of death by distribution. On Dec. 23, deputies said Yokely was served the indictment while incarcerated in the Davidson County Detention Center for unrelated drug charges.
Yokelely is still in custody, and his bond has been set at $50,000.
Holder gets Active Sentence in Death by Distribution Case
Kilo of fentanyl discovered in Durham drug trafficking arrest
DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — A man has been arrested, and a kilo of the highly potent, synthetic opioid fentanyl has been seized by the Durham County Sheriff’s Office.
On Thursday, Jerrad Alexander McPherson, 28, was seen acting suspiciously in what appeared to be the sale and distribution of drugs, according to investigators with the sheriff’s narcotics unit.
Detective S. Dixon attempted a traffic stop of the maroon Buick Encore McPherson was driving, at which time warrants state McPherson drove recklessly and more than 15 mph over the posted limit in the area of Hillsborough and Colemill roads in northwest Durham.
During a short pursuit, the sheriff’s office said McPherson threw items out of the car before coming to a stop. The items thrown from the car were found to be a stolen 9mm semiautomatic pistol and a “small amount of narcotics,” according to the sheriff’s office.
After the traffic stop, a warrant was granted to search McPherson’s home, where a kilo of fentanyl was found and seized.
At the time of his arrest, McPherson was on federal probation and had been previously convicted on drug possession charges, according to his warrant.
Following his Thursday arrest, he was taken to the Durham County jail and given a $2.5 million bond. His charges include:
- Trafficking opium or fentanyl
- Possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver fentanyl
- Possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver methamphetamine
- Felony possession of cocaine
- Felony flee/elude arrest with a motor vehicle
- 2 counts of maintaining a vehicle/dwelling with controlled substances
- Possession of a stolen firearm
- Possess firearm by felon
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
The sheriff’s office said one kilo is enough to kill about 500,000 people, which is more than the population of the entire City of Durham.
“To remove a kilo of fentanyl off our streets potentially saves 500,000 lives because fentanyl is so potent,” Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead told CBS 17. “An amount that’s the size of a pinhead could kill an individual.”
From January to August 2025, the state reported 44 fentanyl-positive deaths in Durham County. Though progress is being made, the county has lost more than 500 people due to opioids since 2013.
“Hopefully now, we’ll put together a good case and present it to the district attorney or to the U.S. attorney’s office because this is trafficking,” Birkhead said. “We’ll try to prosecute this individual to the fullest extent of the law.”
That’s a welcomed goal for family members of local victims.