Both men, Frederick O’Neal Bailey of Enfield and Ramiro Eduardo Oviedo-Perez of Tarboro, were charged under the Operation Burnout campaign.

Bailey, 37, was sentenced by Senior United States District Judge James C. Fox in Wilmington to 90 months imprisonment followed by five years supervised release for his participation in a conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of crack and 5 kilograms or more of cocaine powder.

Oviedo-Perez, 21, was sentenced in Raleigh by United States District Judge James C. Dever III to 30 months imprisonment for his participation in a drug trafficking conspiracy.

“It shows what happens when agencies work together to take down two large dealers in our area,” Frazier said this morning.

While the sentences may appear to be light for the men’s deep involvement in the drug trade, Frazier explained because of their lack of previous record, they would probably have received light sentences to possible probation in the state court system.

“The difference is in the set up in the federal system,” the sheriff said, explaining the federal court system has lower tolerance for drug trafficking.

Operation Burnout has thus far taken nearly 30 large scale drug dealers off the streets. Frazier said. “There’s a lot of dangerous stuff going on and it’s taken close to 30 people.”

This operation shows officers and narcotics agents are not just targeting nickel and dime dealers, he said. “We’re getting the big boys.”

Bailey has been in federal custody since being arrested by federal authorities on August 11, 2009. According to investigators, his drug trafficking activities date back to 2003, and was accountable for the distribution of more than 6,000 grams of crack and 26,000 grams of cocaine powder. He was arrested after investigators with Halifax County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI made two controlled buys of cocaine base.

On December 31, 2009, Bailey sold 49.2 grams of cocaine base to law enforcement in exchange for $3,200, and then on January 7, 2009, sold 49.3 grams of cocaine base to law enforcement in exchange for $2,600.

Both controlled buys were captured on video and depict Bailey distributing the narcotics.

This case was part of Operation Burnout, the ongoing joint investigation by the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation targeting drug traffickers in and around the Halifax County area. Twenty-six drug traffickers have now been convicted and sentenced as a part of this investigation.

In response to this case, U.S. Attorney George E.B. Holding said, “The investigators assigned to this ... case have done a tremendous job and we are grateful for their hard work in removing drug traffickers from the Halifax County community.

“We know there is more work to be done and we intend on continuing to partner with them in our effort to dismantle the drug distribution network operating in and around Halifax County.”

Assistant United States Attorney Josh Royster served as the prosecutor for the government.

Oviedo-Perez has been in federal custody since his arrest on August 13, 2009, as a result of a buy-bust operation in which law enforcement agents with the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office and FBI used a confidential informant to arrange a drug deal with a coconspirator of his and then arrested the coconspirator and Oviedo-Perez at the buy location.

Law enforcement also seized more than 65 grams of cocaine base, 10 grams of cocaine powder, scales and drug packaging materials at the drug buy location.

According to investigators, he was in the United States illegally and he will be subject to deportation upon completion of his federal sentence. He was held accountable for the distribution of 66.2 grams of cocaine base and 226.8 grams of cocaine.

Holding commented, “The investigators assigned to this ... case have done a tremendous job and we are grateful for their hard work in removing drug traffickers from our district. We know there is more work to be done, and we intend on continuing to partner with these agencies in our effort to dismantle the drug distribution network operating in our district.”

Royster served as the prosecutor for the government.