Kinte Fisher, 47, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for trafficking large quantities of cocaine into the Wilmington area over a five-year period, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced on Wednesday.
Fisher admitted to possessing and distributing cocaine with intent to distribute as part of a significant drug trafficking network that operated primarily out of a stash house in Wilmington. The operation involved frequent trips under the guise of visiting family while Fisher oversaw the distribution of narcotics, including managing his girlfriend’s involvement in the scheme.
Fisher’s trafficking efforts included using the U.S. Postal Service to ship narcotics. Over the course of his operation, he was responsible for distributing at least 62 kilograms of cocaine. Law enforcement’s investigation, which included the FBI and Wilmington Police Department, revealed the extensive nature of Fisher’s network.
On July 25, 2022, surveillance captured Fisher entering his stash house with a backpack and later discarding plastic wrap that tested positive for cocaine residue. When authorities attempted to pull him over for a traffic stop, Fisher led them on a high-speed chase through Wilmington’s business district. After abandoning his car, Fisher fled on foot, but officers eventually apprehended him at the Wilmington Riverwalk. During the chase, Fisher threw his cellphone into the river in an attempt to destroy evidence.
A subsequent search of Fisher’s stash house revealed 340 grams of cocaine, a scale, and various drug packaging materials, further confirming his involvement in the trafficking operation.
Fisher’s 20-year sentence reflects his leadership role in the operation and his attempts to evade law enforcement, serving as a reminder of the serious consequences of engaging in drug trafficking.