‘Substantial player' in drug trade arrested

A man on federal probation for a drug conviction was arrested just after midnight Friday along with two others for drug trafficking.

Damein L. Brown, 27, of 614 White St., who is on federal probation for possession of cocaine, was driving his 2003 Cadillac Escalade on U.S. 70 west of New Bern when Craven County sheriff’s narcotics officers and Drug Enforcement Administration agents stopped the SUV.

Craven County Sheriff’s Capt. Joe Heckman said Brown was a “substantial player in the drug business. He has been around for a while.”

Leonard V. Green, 31, of Kennedy Drive, and Shadaa Jones, 23, of 1916 Evans St., were in the SUV and all three were arrested.

Brown was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, trafficking in marijuana, maintaining a vehicle to keep controlled substance, and conspiracy to traffic in marijuana. His state bail was set at $250,000.

Federal authorities contacted Heckman on Friday afternoon and put a hold on Brown, meaning he cannot get out of jail and federal authorities will pick him up.

Green faces charges of conspiracy to traffic marijuana and trafficking marijuana, according to Heckman. His bail was set at $250,000.

Jones was charged with trafficking in marijuana and conspiracy to traffic in marijuana. Her bail was set at $100,000.

Heckman said the narcotic officers and DEA agents were backed up by deputies from the sheriff’s office. “We don’t make a traffic stop with just one vehicle and several officers,” he said. “We don’t know what we will find,” he said. Heckman said the investigation has been ongoing.

Officers found 25 pounds of marijuana, worth about $2,000 a pound, in the SUV. Officers also took $500 in cash.

Friday afternoon the SUV was being dismantled by authorities in an effort to find any hidden compartments that could be holding weapons or other drugs.

Francine Sawyer can be reached at 252-635-5671 or at fsawyer@freedomenc.com.