In a stark turnaround, a former Raleigh firefighter and his wife entered guilty pleas on drug trafficking charges, as reported on Thursday. Nicholas Banister, 36, and Amanda Banister, 26, partook in a large-scale operation to sell narcotics throughout Eastern North Carolina, primarily around the Glenwood South area, using the dark web and cryptocurrency in their illegal business. The couple admitted to these activities in federal court, facing a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison for their actions.
During his service as a senior Raleigh firefighter, Nicholas was arrested in May 2024, leveraging the trust bestowed upon him by the public to facilitate this drug trade. According to the ABC11 report, Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar highlighted the duplicity of Nicholas Banister, stating, “The defendant, a Raleigh firefighter, served in a position of public trust, but was hiding in plain sight as he and his wife sold numerous types of illegal narcotics around businesses the community frequently visits.” Law enforcement found various drugs, firearms, and over $213,000 in cash at the Banisters’ residence.
Undercover operations played a pivotal role in bringing the Banisters to justice, with the pair selling cocaine and methamphetamine on multiple occasions at the Morgan Street Food Hall in Raleigh to an undercover law enforcement officer, as described in reports by CBS17. Their downfall was the result of a meticulous investigation involving state and federal agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement (NC ALE)…