United States District Court Judge Louise W. Flanagan last month sentenced Lorenizo Reshaud Simmons, 33, to over six years in prison for possession with intent to sell over 40 grams of fentanyl.

According to a statement from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Simmons sold fentanyl in Halifax County from a residence he used to store and package his drugs. 

In August 2022, the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation into Simmons’ conduct after receiving complaints of drug activity in Garysburg. 

The HCSO, with the assistance of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation conducted three controlled buys of fentanyl. 

On May 4, 2023, the HCSO and Northampton County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Simmons’ house and found over 300 grams of a fentanyl analogue and 90 milligrams of morphine. They also seized a digital scale, extended gun magazines, hundreds of bullets, and other drug paraphernalia to include needles and syringes. 

Simmons is a convicted felon, most recently for selling opiates and possession of oxycodone in 2018.

“Fentanyl kills kids. This repeat offender should have learned his lesson before, but he returned to this shameful exploitation of his own community,” said United States Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We should all join together in our close-knit eastern North Carolina communities to reject this evil and keep our families together. Simple lesson: Drugs kill, prison awaits: Do right.” 

Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Dixon prosecuted the case.