UNC suspends 3 fraternities that federal prosecutors linked to ‘large-scale’ drug ring

BOONE, N.C. — Twenty-one people are facing federal charges for dealing drugs at and around the University of North Carolina, Duke University and Appalachian State University, officials announced on Thursday.

While working a drug case several years ago, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office got a tip that illegal drugs were being sold on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In November 2018, agents with the Drug Enforcement Agency launched an investigation into the matter and said it became clear that the illegal drug distribution involved some UNC fraternal organizations.

According to court documents, the UNC chapters of Phi Gamma Delta, Kappa Sigma and Beta Theta Pi were all involved in illegal drug activity between 2017 and the spring of 2020.

“This investigation reveals that the fraternity culture at these universities is dangerous. University administrators and national chapters cannot turn a blind eye to the impact on these students and the environment on their respective college campuses. The drug culture feeds many other problems on campus and in our society. University administrators must take a stand and put a stop to it,” said U.S. Attorney Martin.

UNC announced on Friday that it has suspended three fraternities that were linked to the drug trafficking ring.

In a statement, UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz said the findings prompted the university to take “swift action” to combat behavior he believes endangers student and public health.

“Today, UNC-Chapel Hill suspended University recognition of the campus chapters of Phi Gamma Delta, Kappa Sigma and Beta Theta Pi due to the alleged activity cited in the ongoing investigation,” Guskiewicz wrote. “We are taking swift action today because the serious nature of the alleged criminal behaviors is contradictory to our code of conduct and endangers the health of our student body and community.”

Guskiewicz said the university is continuing to work with law enforcement.

Executive director of Phi Gamma Delta Rob Caudill’s full statement:

“It is shocking to learn of the allegations involving our chapter and others at the University of North Carolina. These allegations are very serious, suggest conduct which violate our policies and values, and we have zero tolerance for the alleged actions. The International Fraternity has temporarily suspended the chapter, precluding any chapter activity pending the findings of an investigation. We are committed to working with law enforcement and the University to fully understand the involvement of our members.”

An Appalachian State fraternity member has also been accused of being part of the drug ring, selling to fellow App State students as well as people in Chapel Hill. Another ASU student was also charged after being accused of selling one ounce of cocaine to investigators.

Investigators also identified a female Duke student as being responsible for distributing cocaine to students at Duke and to fraternity members at UNC.

Some of the students are accused of buying and selling drugs from the rooms of their fraternity houses. Investigators said one student posted marijuana prices in his fraternity’s GroupMe thread.

“No one is above the law, including college students and fraternity members at elite universities. This serious drug trafficking is destructive and reckless, and many lives have been ruined,” Martin said.

According to court documents, the drug ring funneled over 1,000 pounds of marijuana, several hundred kilograms of cocaine and significant quantities of other drugs into these college campuses over the course of several years. Investigators estimate the profit from the drugs exceeded $1.5 million.

“College communities should be a safe haven for young adults to obtain a higher education, not a place where illegal drugs are easily accessible,” said DEA SAC Murphy. “These fraternity members’ drug trafficking crimes contributed to a toxic and dangerous environment on these college campuses. The arrest of these drug traffickers makes these college campuses and their respective communities safer.”

Francisco Javier Ochoa, 27, was the first person to be charged in the investigation. He was named as a primary drug supplier and was sentenced to 73 months in prison, 5 years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $250,000 forfeiture judgment.

Between July and December, 2020, twenty others have been charged.

In an indictment returned on July 27, 2020, the grand jury charged the following defendants with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute marijuana:

• ANDREW BOYLAN GADDY, age 24, of Carrboro, NC;

• TRAVIS MICHAEL EVANS, age 27, of Hillsborough, NC;

• DANE LAMBERT SIMON, age 23, of Durham, NC;

• BRIANHA NICOLE HASKELL, age 24, of Hillsborough, NC; and

• MARIELA ZAVALA MENDOZA, aka Maria Ochoa, age 25, of Turlock, CA.

In other indictments returned in July, October, and December, 2020, the grand jury charged each of the following defendants with conspiracy to distribute cocaine:

• ZACHRE CHASEN ABERCROMBIE, age 27, of Charlotte, NC;

• AMBER JANA JOHNSON, age 24, of Carrboro, NC;

• JOHN FREDERICK HOLLOWAY, age 23, of Carrboro, NC;

• DEVIN JAMES McDONALD, age 23, of Kill Devil Hills, NC;

• JASON BLAKE NITSOS, age 24, of Greensboro, NC;

• DEVON ANTHONY PICKERING, age 35, of Charlotte, NC;

• EDISON TORRES ROBLES, aka Fransisco Gallego Mandez Rodriguez, age 26, of Durham, NC; and

• JASON SHUANG XU, age 23, of Apex, NC.

Seven additional defendants were individually charged in October and December, 2020, with a variety of offenses:

• CHANDLER DAVID ANDERSON, age 27, of Wilmington, NC, faces charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marihuana.

• DAVIS LINDSEY BAYHA, age 21, of Chapel Hill, NC, faces charges of conspiracy to distribute marihuana; use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug felony; and distribution of a controlled substance within 1000 feet of a public or private college or university.

• KYLE PARRISH BECKNER, age 22, of Boone, NC, is charged with distribution of LSD and use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug felony.

• BERNARD ALEKSANDER BUKOWSKI, age 24, of Raleigh, NC, faces one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

• CHARLES CLEVEAU POINDEXTER aka Chase Poindexter, age 23, and JACKSON ALEXANDER NORRIS, age 22, of Chapel Hill, NC, are each charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine; use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug felony; and distribution of a controlled substance within 1000 feet of a public or private college or university.

• CHRISTOPHER ANTONIO REYES, age 26, of Greensboro, NC, is charged with conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana.

Full statement from Appalachian State University:

“Appalachian State University is fully cooperating with this investigation. We have no on-campus fraternity houses, and we report bi-annually on the status of recognized fraternities and sororities. You can find the latest information here. We are committed to providing a safe campus, and will continue our work with education and prevention, as well as utilizing student conduct and law enforcement processes, to do so.”

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