A 26-year-old Raleigh man is headed to federal prison for the next ten years following a narcotics investigation that uncovered a cocktail of dangerous synthetic drugs. Nasir Gray received his sentence in a federal courtroom after previously entering a guilty plea on October 14, 2025, for the distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl and the precursor chemical ANPP.
The case against Gray took shape in early June 2023. At that time, investigators with the Raleigh Police Department received a tip from a confidential source identifying Gray as a local trafficker.
According to court records, law enforcement moved quickly to verify the lead, arranging a controlled buy to catch Gray in the act. That transaction gave officers the probable cause they needed to secure a search warrant for his apartment.
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When police cleared the residence, they didn’t just find the fentanyl mentioned in the initial tip. The search turned up a significant inventory of illegal substances, including PCE, MDMA pills, cocaine base, heroin mixed with fentanyl, and Adderall. Beyond the drugs, officers seized the tools of the trade: digital scales, a mobile phone used for transactions, and a firearm.
“Crime doesn’t pay. They sell poison that kills children and destroys their communities. The loss of freedom earned when you get caught never balances out whatever fleeting cash passes through your hands for a second. Do better and take care of your community,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Raleigh Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci led the prosecution.
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