Kinston Meth Trafficker Gets More Than a Decade Behind Federal Prison Bars
NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Kenji Chiba Jerkins, 31, to over 10 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute large quantities of meth in Lenoir County. Jerkins pled guilty to these crimes on June 18, 2026.
“This defendant was held accountable for distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute significant quantities of methamphetamine,” said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “That outcome would not have been possible without the commitment and cooperation of our law enforcement partners. Together, we followed the evidence, built the case, and ensured this dangerous drug trafficker faced the consequences of his actions.”
“Once again we have caught and federally prosecuted a Big Shark Bad Boy who will no longer push his poisonous product in Eastern North Carolina to pad his pockets,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Despite trying to outrun and dump his illegal drugs, he soon discovered the long arm of the law always wins. He will now sit behind the cold bars of steel for over a decade. Simple Lesson: Drugs Kill, Prison Awaits – Do Right.”
During a joint narcotics investigation, the DEA and the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office identified Jerkins as a major meth dealer in Lenoir County. On August 11, 2025, law enforcement tried to stop a vehicle in which he was a passenger, but the driver refused to pull over. A high‑speed chase ensued. Officers saw Jerkins throw large amounts of meth out the passenger window before the vehicle crashed into a tree in a local citizen’s yard. Jerkins tried to run from the scene, but officers quickly caught him. After searching the vehicle and the chase path, officers recovered 292 grams of crystal meth, two torn bags containing meth, and 1 gram of marijuana. Jerkins has a long record of criminal convictions and repeatedly violated the terms of his probation and supervised release from prior state convictions.
“This case is a great example of what can happen when law enforcement agencies work together. The Lenoir County Sheriff Office and our federal partners will continue to go after those who bring dangerous drugs into our community,” said Lenoir County Sheriff, Jackie Rogers. “This defendant made the choice to sell poison, and now he will spend more than a decade paying the price for that choice. Drugs destroy lives, and if you choose to sell them in Lenoir County, we will find you.”
W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The DEA and Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
