WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – 29-year-old Emerald Josey pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver Cocaine, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and obtained the status of being a habitual felon in court on Nov. 5.
According to the District Attorney’s (DA) Office, in October of 2024, Wilmington Police Department (WPD) officers were alerted to an individual going by the name “E” selling narcotics near Ruth’s Grocery in Wilmington.
Detectives identified “E” as Josey and launched a narcotics distribution investigation into the case, conducting “multiple controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Josey.”
On Nov. 13, 2024, the WPD Vice Narcotics and SWAT teams searched two properties identified as locations Josey frequented and seized the following items:
- Stribog SP9A1 9mm pistol with ammunition, found in a vehicle owned by Josey
- Crack cocaine
- Digital scales and baggies, which WPD states are commonly used to weigh and package narcotics for distribution
- Two additional firearms
- $41,358.25 in United States currency
The DA states Josey’s DNA was found on one of the firearms…