Chapel Hill, North Carolina–Three fraternities at UNC-Chapel Hill have been suspended after 21 people were charged with trafficking drugs this week including Xanax and cocaine over a several year period. U.S. Attorney Matthew G.T. Martin of North Carolina referred to those indicted this week as “21 hardened drug dealers.” Students from the prestigious Duke and Appalachian State Universities were also indicted.
Among those arrested, at least 11 are current or former students ranging from ages 21-35.
According to prosecutors, over the course of several years, the drug ring funneled over a thousand pounds of marijuana, several hundred kilograms of cocaine, as well as significant quantities of other drugs into these college campuses. They expect the profits from this ring to be around $1.5 million dollars.
Read More: DEA Investigation in Chapel Hill Area Uncovers Large-Scale Drug Ring
Cooperating sources and informants helped authorities crack the case open after receiving information about drug sales at UNC-Chapel Hill while working a drug case.
In 2017, authorities began investigating illegal drug sales on UNC-Chapel Hills campus and found that students had turned the frat house into the trap house with drugs being sold in or near the frat houses of Phi Gamma Delta, Kappa Sigma and Beta Theta Pi.
“The fraternity groups’ alleged primary supplier was Francisco Javier Ochoa Jr., 27, of Turlock, Calif. Ochoa was indicted in November 2019 for conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, according to court documents. According to a defendant who cooperated with investigators, Ochoa supplied them each week with approximately 200 pounds of marijuana and two kilograms of cocaine from March 2017 until March 2019,” (Washington Post).
Ochoa was arrested and sentenced to a six year prison term in 2019. During his arrest, police found 189 Xanax pills, 148 pounds of weed and over 400 grams of cocaine.
Video: CBS 17, Photos Compiled by the Daily Mail
