Wilmington man linked to drug overdoses sentenced

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The man Wilmington Police said was the heroin dealer linked to many overdoses in the area earlier this year is heading to prison.

Vidal Becton, 42, pleaded guilty to several drug and firearms charges on Wednesday afternoon in a New Hanover County courtroom. He was sentenced to between more than 10 and almost 14 years behind bars.

Becton was first arrested for drugs in November 2014 and again in May of this year. At the second arrest they determined the substance he was selling then was fentanyl. Around that time police were investigating several overdoses from a substance believed to be heroin.