NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Donquel Caron McEachern, 36, of Fayetteville, to over 17 years in federal prison for selling cocaine and fentanyl throughout Cumberland County. On June 18, 2026, McEachern pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute 400 grams of fentanyl, over 1 pound of cocaine, 28 grams of crack cocaine, and marijuana. He also admitted possessing 400 grams of fentanyl, over 1 pound of cocaine, and 28 grams of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute, as well as possessing a gun to assist his drug selling. “McEachern built a drug selling business that pumped fentanyl, cocaine, and other deadly poison into Cumberland County while menacing folks with his guns at every turn,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “His blind greed endangered families, fueled addiction, and showed a blatant disregard for the safety of this community. Today’s sentence reflects the gravity of his actions and our continued commitment to dismantling the organizations and individuals who profit from spreading this poison. Simple lesson; drugs kill, prison awaits, do better.”In 2023, law enforcement began investigating McEachern as a major drug supplier of fentanyl, cocaine, and other narcotics in Fayetteville. That same year, officers twice found him in possession of cocaine and a firearm. After those encounters, investigators determined that McEachern and members of his drug trafficking organization used Airbnb rentals as “trap houses” to store, prepare, package, and distribute drugs. On November 6, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at one of the Airbnb McEachern used. Inside, they found approximately 5 pounds of cocaine, 2 pounds of fentanyl, 53 grams of crack cocaine, five guns, and body armor.McEachern just picked up and moved to a new location to continue selling drugs. During two more separate traffic stops leading up to May 2025, investigators found him with three guns and thousands of dollars in cash. On May 1, 2025, law enforcement executed two additional search warrants at the new Airbnb rentals he used for drug distribution and seized more guns, fentanyl, cocaine, and drug‑trafficking paraphernalia.“This sentencing demonstrates what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies work together through the Homeland Security Task Force,” said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “By combining our expertise and resources, we are strengthening our efforts to dismantle criminal networks, disrupt drug trafficking, and protect the communities we serve.”"The Fayetteville Police Department is dedicated to maximizing our federal partnerships to target and dismantle those who exploit drug addiction for personal gain. The conviction and federal sentencing of McEachern demonstrate the decisive impact of collaborative enforcement across federal, state, and local agencies. Let this serve as a stern warning to anyone distributing illegal drugs in our city; you will be held fully accountable under the law."This prosecution is part of Operation Gate Keeper, a component of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) established under Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole‑of‑government initiative committed to dismantling criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children…
Source: U.S. Department of Justice