A North Carolina man will spend the next decade in federal prison after investigators intercepted a package containing 10 kilograms of cocaine headed for Portsmouth.
Federal prosecutors said 41-year-old Kareem Akeem McMurrin conspired with another person to ship the cocaine from San Diego, California, to an address in Portsmouth. Court documents show law enforcement intercepted the parcel on February 5, removed the cocaine, and allowed the delivery to proceed.
When McMurrin picked up the package, investigators attempted to arrest him. Prosecutors said he fled at a high rate of speed with his adolescent child in the vehicle and tried to discard the parcel during the chase. He escaped that day but was arrested the following month on an outstanding warrant.
“This conduct was inherently dangerous and damaging on a transnational scale,” said U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan for the Eastern District of Virginia. “By attempting to move 10 kilograms of cocaine into Portsmouth, he was contributing to the success of a larger and dangerous criminal enterprise.”
Investigators emphasized ongoing efforts to stop illegal narcotics from entering communities like Portsmouth.
“Postal Inspectors work aggressively to eliminate illegal narcotics from the U.S. Mail,” said Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Washington Division. “Working closely with law enforcement partners helped bring this case to a successful resolution.”
McMurrin was sentenced this week to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
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