A Raleigh man, identified as Joshua Vines, aged 40, was handed down a federal prison sentence exceeding eight years for his involvement in a fentanyl distribution ring that targeted areas throughout Eastern North Carolina. Confessing to the conspiracy to distribute an excess of 400 grams of the substance, Vines had earlier plead guilty to the charge, according by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Court documents reveal that on a routine day of October 25, 2023, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents were monitoring a vehicle associated with co-defendant Nigel Gray. Beside a Dollar General store in Elizabeth City, they noticed suspicious exchanges culminating in a passenger, known co-conspirator Omar Cardenas, switching cars. The law enforcement, driving by Omar Cardenas, later intercepted a vehicle with Vines behind the wheel. Vines, caught off guard, dialed Gray requesting the car’s registration, under the law enforcement’s surveillance.
During the vehicle stop in Nashville, NC, a trained K-9 signaled the existence of narcotics, which led to the discovery of Pills motley with fentanyl or an analogue known as para-fluorofentanyl, weighing about 1.5 kilograms, and an additional kilogram of pure fentanyl powder. Subsequent text message exchanges between Vines and Gray indicated they knew they were being detained and a consent to search the vehicle was issued. The intent, as per their communications, was to distribute these drugs in Raleigh…