Leader of heroin trafficking organization sentenced to 30 years

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that a man from Leland has been sentenced in federal court to 30 years in prison for the distribution heroin.

The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that 43-year-old Robert Boone was sentenced after previously being convicted of conspiracy to distribute at least one kilogram of heroin and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

A news release said an investigation by federal and state law enforcement agencies revealed that Boone operated a large scale drug trafficking organization (DTO) in his hometown of Paterson, New Jersey. When he relocated to Wilmington in 2012, from 2012 to 2015, the drug trafficking organization flooded Wilmington with kilogram quantities of heroin.

According to a release, couriers were employed to transport the heroin and heroin proceeds between New Jersey and Wilmington. The DTO utilized multiple bank accounts, wire transfers, and prepaid debit cards to launder hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds.

The U.S. Department of Justice says the following co-conspirators were charged and have already been sentenced in federal court in connection with this prosecution: Aaron Veal, James Townsend, Craig Denson, Larry K. Johnson, Christopher Antuan Jones, Danielle Jones, Syrjah Kashik Alston, Takeyah Oni Baker, Octabia Lauren Boone, and Felicia Hall.

This case was brought as a part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Operation entitled WoofPack, investigating importers and multi-level distributors of heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and gang activity associated with this drug trafficking organization.