Talvin Lamar Brandon, 29, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for armed drug trafficking. This decision follows an incident where he collided with a patrol car while attempting to evade a traffic stop. Brandon had previously pleaded guilty on September 3, 2024, to charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
Court documents revealed that Brandon was recognized as a significant source of cocaine in Franklin County. In July 2024, law enforcement tried to stop his vehicle after suspecting a drug transaction. During the attempted stop, Brandon fled the scene, hitting the officer's patrol car. The pursuit ended when Brandon lost control of his vehicle and ran off the road. While fleeing on foot, he dropped two kilograms of cocaine. Authorities recovered a firearm and a loaded magazine from his vehicle.
The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation aimed at dismantling high-level drug traffickers and criminal organizations through coordinated efforts across various law enforcement agencies.
U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley Jr., for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announced the sentencing after U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle delivered the judgment. The investigation involved the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey L. Peaden prosecuting.