Rick Derrell McIntyre was sentenced on Mar. 17 to 35 years in federal prison for leading a decade-long drug conspiracy in the Fayetteville area. McIntyre pleaded guilty on May 24, 2024, to conspiracy to sell and possess with intent to sell at least 50 grams of methamphetamine, as well as selling that amount.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to address large-scale drug trafficking operations affecting local communities. Authorities say such conspiracies contribute significantly to addiction and crime rates.
According to court documents, the Fayetteville Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other agencies identified McIntyre as the head of a major drug trafficking organization operating since at least 2012. Investigators found that he coordinated with multiple co-conspirators to purchase and distribute large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and MDMA throughout Fayetteville. McIntyre had previously been convicted of conspiracy to sell cocaine in the Eastern District of North Carolina in 1998.
“For years, McIntyre distributed poison into his own community. Today’s federal prison sentence demonstrates the power of partnerships between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to shut down his drug dealing business for good,” said Reid Davis, FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina.
The Fayetteville Police Department said: “For years, McIntyre led a complex drug trafficking organization that dispersed dangerous unlawful controlled substances into our community. The Fayetteville Police Department is committed to utilizing our federal and state partnerships to dismantle such organizations and to hold accountable those that seek to profit from addiction and despair. The message should be loud and clear that if you traffic drugs in our community, we will identify you, arrest you, and hold you accountable.”
Investigators conducted controlled purchases of highly pure methamphetamine from McIntyre and others during 2023 and 2024. They discovered he stored drugs at his business location in Spring Lake. These operations led authorities to seize over 3,700 grams of methamphetamine sourced from Atlanta, Arizona, and other states. In total between 2012 and June 2023, investigators determined McIntyre was responsible for distributing more than 350 pounds of methamphetamine along with significant amounts of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and MDMA.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced the sentencing after it was handed down by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III.
