RALEIGH, N.C. (WAVY) — An Elizabeth City man was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years following 25 grams of cocaine and 189 grams of fentanyl being recovered from his possession.
According to court documents and additional details presented in court, law enforcement obtained information that Al Esteban Ortiz, 49, had driven to New York to purchase narcotics.
On May 4, 2024, Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office investigators initiated a traffic stop once Ortiz entered Pasquotank County. Law enforcement noticed he threw a white bag out of the passenger side window onto the shoulder of the road.
Investigators then arrested Ortiz and recovered the bag, which contained 189 grams of fentanyl. Next, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Ortiz’s house, where they recovered 25 grams of cocaine.
Ortiz admitted to travelling to New York and purchasing what he believed to be heroin for $11,000, to bring back to Elizabeth City for distribution.
He was sentenced on Tuesday, June 17 for possessing with intent to distribute. He previously pled guilty to the charges on January 17.
