Man convicted of distributing meth in eastern North Carolina

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — A man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for his part in trafficking drugs through eastern North Carolina. On December 12, 2025, 29-year-old Alexander Sandoval pled guilty to conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of meth, actually distributing 50 grams or more of meth and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. 'This depraved drug pusher pumped staggering amounts of fentanyl, meth, and cocaine into our communities, hiding his poison in furniture and moving it across Eastern North Carolina,' said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. 'Even up to the bitter end, armed with a revolver, fleeing at more than 100 miles an hour, and running from officers on foot, he refused to stop. But, in the end, he fought the law and the law won.Let this be a stark warning, we will put you in prison for decades. Simple Lesson: Drugs Kill, Prison Awaits – Do Right.' Investigators identified Sandoval as a suspect in a narcotics investigation in 2022. Law enforcement found his drug-trafficking organization and discovered that they hid meth, fentanyl and cocaine inside furniture that was shipped to Fayetteville. Sandoval oversaw the operation even when the shipments arrived, instructing others to take apart the furniture and collect the drugs for distribution. The operation moved 79 pounds of fentanyl, 1,817 pounds of meth and 174 pounds of cocaine into eastern North Carolina. Investigators conducted controlled meth purchases from Sandoval between the months of February and June 2023. Hope Mills Police attempted to stop Sandoval for speeding during this time and Sandoval fled, leading officers on a high-speed chase before he abandoned his car and fled on foot. He attempted to toss a revolver and meth, but cops eventually found them before his arrest. Sandoval was released from state custody. Within just a few months of his release, he fled from police in another high-speed chase. He again fled his car and attempted to ditch his cocaine. Sandoval was once again arrested. 'This sentence reflects the FBI's unwavering commitment to protecting our communities from dangerous drug traffickers,' said the Reid Davis FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina. 'In the past year alone, federal drug‑trafficking investigations led to thousands of arrests nationwide, including significant increases in cases involving fentanyl and methamphetamine. These arrests are the result of coordinated efforts with our federal, state, and local partners, and they underscore our intensified crackdown on the criminal networks driving the fentanyl epidemic. The FBI will continue to crush violent crime, dismantle these organizations, and hold those who threaten the safety of North Carolinians accountable.' 'This guilty plea and subsequent sentencing reflect our relentless commitment to removing violent, habitual offenders from the streets of Fayetteville. Drug trafficking and gun violence inflict deep, lasting harm on our neighborhoods, and our department will not stand by while violent actors endanger our residents and threaten the peace of our community,' said Assistant Chief Todd Joyce, Fayetteville Police Department. 'This outcome demonstrates what is possible through seamless coordination between local officers, federal investigators, and the U.S. Attorney's Office. To those who choose to introduce dangerous narcotics and illegal firearms into Fayetteville; you will be met with the full weight of our combined resources, and you will be held accountable under federal law.' The FBI, Fayetteville Police Department and Hope Mills Police Department investigated the case.