Sampson County Drug Kingpin Convicted After Running Coast-to-Coast Meth Empire
RALEIGH, N.C. — A federal jury has found Homer Allen Faison III, a Sampson County native, guilty on 12 felony counts tied to a massive methamphetamine trafficking operation that funneled drugs from California to Eastern North Carolina. Prosecutors say Faison ran a “coast-to-coast drug empire” that pumped deadly meth into small towns, fueling addiction and violence across the region.
‘Flooding Our Communities with Meth’
“This verdict sends a strong message: if you flood our communities with deadly drugs, we will come after you,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “This defendant chose to run a major cross-country methamphetamine operation, and now he will face the consequences.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones added that the case demonstrates the impact of federal partnerships: “Bringing an end to this criminal operation will have a major impact on public safety.”
Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton also praised the collaboration, noting that coordinated efforts prevented overdoses and “stopped the flow of poison before it reached our streets.”
A Coast-to-Coast Pipeline of Meth
According to court records, Faison, 47, led a multi-year drug trafficking organization that moved large quantities of pure methamphetamine from California into Sampson County. Prosecutors say he personally traveled to California to source pounds of meth, then arranged shipments back east for distribution across Clinton and surrounding communities.
The investigation uncovered repeated bulk deliveries, coded communications, and an ongoing network of drug houses and couriers operating between 2020 and Faison’s arrest in May 2023.
Facing Life Behind Bars
Faison was convicted on 12 counts, including conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in federal prison when sentenced in February 2026.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caroline Webb and Charles Loeser prosecuted the case. The investigation was a joint effort involving the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, ATF, DEA, IRS, Clinton Police Department, and the NC State Bureau of Investigation under Operation Take Back America, part of the DOJ’s national effort to dismantle organized drug networks.
Editor’s Note: The feature image used in this article is for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the convicted individual.