Fentanyl dealer ‘pushing venomous poison' convicted in federal court

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A federal jury has convicted a Raleigh man of bringing large amounts of fentanyl into the city from other states over a two-year period, the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina said. According to federal prosecutors, Isiah Naaquan Weeks ran a drug trafficking operation that brought hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills from California and Arizona into Raleigh from 2022 until his arrest in 2024. Weeks also carried guns with him while dealing drugs, according to federal prosecutors. Days before Week's arrest, according to federal prosecutors, his search history showed he looked up the best places for Americans to live in Mexico and non-extradition countries in response to one of his associates being caught with thousands of fentanyl pills tied to him. Federal prosecutors said Weeks was convicted after a three-day trial on nine fentanyl counts and five firearm possession counts. 'This thug had a long history of pushing venomous poison and despite being locked up in the past, he immediately went back to his dirty work, orchestrating a violent drug‑peddling enterprise from right here in Raleigh, pumping our community full of deadly fentanyl, all while using illegal guns,' U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle said in a statement. 'Working with a collaboration of men and women from local, state, and federal law enforcement, we dismantled his operation, seized his poison and guns, and removed him off our streets,' he continued in his statement. 'This verdict delivers a clear message: Drugs destroy lives and prison awaits. Choose the right path.' ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones said in a statement, 'Holding a drug dealer accountable for his dangerous and careless crimes sends a powerful message to anyone that threatens our public safety. ATF and our law enforcement partners will use every resource we have available to pull the plug on violent criminal networks.' In a statement, the Raleigh Police Department said, 'The Raleigh Police Department extends its sincere gratitude to the exceptional public safety partners whose dedication, professionalism, and commitment throughout this case exemplify the very best of collaboration in modern law enforcement. 'Alongside our officers and detectives, their teamwork, coordination, and shared expertise were instrumental in advancing this investigation and furthering our collective mission to protect and serve our community,' the statement continues. 'We are especially grateful for the strong partnership between the Raleigh Police Department and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The coordination and teamwork demonstrated throughout this investigation reflect the shared commitment of local, state, and federal agencies to working together to uphold justice and keep our community safe.'