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Fellowship members and students at three North Carolina universities are believed to have helped bring more than $ 1.5 million worth of illegal drugs to and around their campuses, a federal investigation revealed Thursday.
The alleged drug ring – which allegedly involved students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University and Appalachian State University (ASU) – trafficked over 1,000 pounds of marijuana, several hundred kilograms of cocaine and “significant quantities”. other drugs, including ecstasy, to fellowship members and other students, according to the Justice Department.
A total of 21 people face federal charges of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana – which is still illegal in Tar Heel State – and other charges in the following an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
“The amount of illegal narcotics sold and used in this case was not only amazing; it also reflected a very serious public health crisis, “Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood said in a statement.” This investigation and the prosecution of those involved in drug trafficking on college campuses should send a clear message that such activity will not be tolerated. “
According to the DOJ, the federal investigation began in November 2018 after the sheriff’s office received information about the sale of illicit drugs on the UNC – Chapel Hill campus. From the start, investigators were able to link drug distribution to UNC fraternities, in particular to campus chapters of Phi Gamma Delta, Kappa Sigma and Beta Theta Pi, between 2017 and spring 2020.
They eventually discovered that people in California were shipping cocaine through the U.S. Postal Service and transporting marijuana by vehicle to college towns. Proceeds from drug sales were also shipped in cash through the postal service, as well as money orders, Western Union and Venmo.
The DOJ described the distribution of drugs as “ubiquitous” in and around UNC fraternities. In one case, an accused said all 22 members of his pawnbroker class at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity home “came in” to buy an ounce of cocaine for spring break in his sophomore year. Another defendant who supplied the drugs to the home said most of the transactions took place around the fraternity events. A thread on GroupMe messages from the house of Kappa Sigma showed that an accused was selling marijuana in his room at the fraternity.
Other deals also involved a Duke student allegedly distributing cocaine to other Duke students and members of the UNC fraternity. ASU students also reportedly distributed other controlled substances, such as LSD and cocaine, to their classmates.
“No one is above the law, including students and members of the elite fraternity
the universities. This serious drug trafficking is destructive and reckless, and many lives have been ruined, ”US Middle District of North Carolina Attorney Matthew GT Martin said in a statement, calling the culture of brotherhood in universities“ dangerous ” .
“University administrators and national chapters cannot turn a blind eye to the impact on these students and the environment on their respective university campuses,” Martin added.
In a statement provided to BuzzFeed News, UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz said none of the defendants are currently enrolled in college but they are working to better understand the implication of individuals and organizations on campus “so that disciplinary action can be taken.”
“We are extremely disappointed to learn of these alleged actions on our campus,” Guskiewics said. “We will remain vigilant and continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and address any illegal drug use on our campus. Our community can be confident that the university will enforce the Student Code of Conduct in as much as possible. “
ASU said in a statement that the university was “fully cooperating” with the investigation.
“We are committed to providing a safe campus, and will continue our education and prevention work, as well as using student conduct and law enforcement processes, to do so,” the statement said.
Michael Schoenfeld, Duke’s communications manager, said in a statement provided to BuzzFeed News that the university is taking the allegations “very seriously” and is cooperating with law enforcement.
“The use and distribution of drugs is illegal, it goes against our code of conduct and endangers the health and safety of our students and the community,” said Schoenfeld. “Duke will respond accordingly through our disciplinary process.”
One of the main suppliers, Francisco Javier Ochoa, Jr., 27, of Turlock, Calif., Was first charged in November 2019 following the investigation. According to the DOJ, Ochoa provided about 200 pounds of marijuana and two kilograms of cocaine per week to another North Carolina defendant from March 2017 to March 2019. Last month he was sentenced to 73 months in prison, with five years on probation, and ordered to pay a judgment of $ 250,000.
Twenty other defendants, including 19 residing in North Carolina, were charged between July and December of this year. Seven of those defendants have already pleaded guilty to one or more of the charges against them and are expected to be sentenced in March, according to the DOJ.
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