Henderson Man Sentenced to Over 11 Years for Armed Drug Trafficking

HENDERSON, NC –A Vance County man was sentenced on Tuesday (Nov. 12) to 138 months in prison for armed drug trafficking. Cedric “730” Neal, a 38-year-old Henderson man, was sentenced on Tuesday, Nov. 14, to 11 years and six months in prison for armed drug trafficking. Neal pled guilty on Aug. 15, 2024, to charges of possession with intent to distribute over 40 grams of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Neal, previously sentenced to 105 months for conspiracy to distribute over 100 grams of heroin, was released on July 27, 2022, with five years of supervised release. However, by early 2023, investigators received tips suggesting that Neal had returned to drug trafficking while under supervision.

Authorities subsequently conducted seven controlled buys of crack cocaine, fentanyl, or both from Neal. These efforts led to search warrants for three locations linked to him, resulting in the seizure of substantial quantities of drugs and firearms. Neal was found to be responsible for 1,205 grams of marijuana, 451 grams of cocaine, 288 grams of fentanyl, nine grams of cocaine base, and five firearms.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles E. Loeser and investigated by the Henderson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. announced the sentencing presided over by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. 

For more information, access court documents at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina website or search for Case No. 5:24-CR-40-FL on PACER.