New Bern man faces federal drug charges

A New Bern man is facing federal charges for his alleged involvement in a large drug-trafficking ring in this area.

Antoine Devon Carr, 27, of National Court Drive, was arrested Wednesday night, and the charges he faces are the latest yielded from a long-term, ongoing investigation called Operation Fresh Start.

Carr is charged with conspiring to distribute cocaine and with possession with intent to distribute the drug. The federal charges indicate that the drugs amount to at least 50 grams of crack cocaine and at least 500 grams of powdered cocaine.

Police say the charges stem from Carr's alleged involvement in a drug-trafficking ring in the New Bern area. Two other men, M-Shulla Saleem Nixon and Benjamin Jesteen Johnson, have already been convicted of participating in the same New Bern ring.

Nixon and Johnson were both sentenced last fall to 23 years in prison for distributing cocaine in the New Bern area.

Operation Fresh Start began in New Bern in 2007. Police say that the sting has resulted in the arrest of 10 mid- to upper-level drug traffickers in the city. Police have seized more than $75,000 in cash and assets since the sting began.

"The investigation is done on our end, and with the help and cooperation of the federal authorities," said Beth Stevenson, a spokeswoman for the New Bern Police Department. "The process started in 2007, but this arrest doesn't mean it's done."

Nikie Mayo can be reached at (252) 635-5665 or nmayo@freedomenc.com.