RALEIGH, N.C. – Harold Vernard Greene, Jr., 45, was sentenced to 24 years in federal prison after being convicted of drug trafficking in an investigation that uncovered direct ties to Mexico-based narcotics suppliers. This marks Greene’s third federal conviction in the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Law enforcement began investigating Greene in January 2023 when he was observed meeting with drug couriers in Wilmington. On March 21, 2023, surveillance captured Greene receiving a package containing a kilogram of cocaine in a mall parking lot, which he then handed off to his girlfriend. Three minor children were present in the girlfriend’s vehicle, where police later found the drugs during a search.
A search warrant executed at Greene’s apartment uncovered a loaded firearm, cash, drug packaging materials, multiple cell phones, psilocybin gummies, and marijuana products. Data retrieved from Greene’s phones revealed communications with drug traffickers in Mexico.
Greene’s criminal record includes two prior federal convictions for drug trafficking, including an 84-month sentence in 2013 and a 24-month sentence in 2017 for possessing drugs while incarcerated. Additionally, Greene has four state felony convictions related to drug trafficking.
“Greene is a frequent-flyer federal felon with direct ties to Mexico-based drug traffickers,” U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. said. “We won’t allow habitual narcotics traffickers to operate in our state.”