RALEIGH — U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced Linc Oshea Brooks to over three years in federal prison on September 18, 2026. Brooks pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine following an investigation that uncovered his involvement in drug trafficking while carrying law enforcement credentials.

The 56-year-old former police officer was arrested after Nash County Sheriff’s Deputies pulled him over for traffic violations. During the stop, a K-9 alerted to drugs in his vehicle, leading deputies to discover 191 grams of cocaine. Brooks became combative during the arrest, forcing deputies to restrain him. At the time of his arrest in January 2023, he carried his police shield and law enforcement ID card.

A search of Brooks' property revealed further evidence of drug distribution activities. Deputies found two digital scales with white residue, plastic baggies, and two guns in a shed on his property. Investigators also located two additional guns and marijuana inside his house. The DEA, ATF, and Nash County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, addressed the breach of public trust involved in the case. "Each day, thousands of men and women courageously put on the badge, kiss goodbye to their families, step into harm’s way, and protect the community from criminal ne'er-do-wells," Boyle said. He noted that a select few choose to break the law they swore to enforce.

"This traitor thought he could outsmart the system," Boyle said. "Thought the law didn’t apply to him." "Unfortunately, a select few choose wrong; breaking the law they swore to enforce," Ellis Boyle said. "But instead, he will now sit behind the cold bars of a prison cell and reflect on how treacherously he behaved," he said. "Simple Lesson: Drugs Kill; Prison Awaits – Do Right," he said.

Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division, emphasized the responsibility carried by law enforcement officers. "Law enforcement officers are entrusted with protecting their communities, not exploiting their positions to facilitate drug trafficking," Connolly said. He stated that when an officer becomes involved in drug trafficking, that conduct not only violates the law but also betrays the public trust. "Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of those actions and the commitment of law enforcement to hold accountable anyone who chooses to traffic dangerous drugs," Connolly said.

Sheriff Keith Stone extended gratitude to the agencies involved in the investigation. "Sheriff Keith Stone extends his sincere gratitude to each agency involved in this investigation for their dedication and hard work," Stone said in a statement. He noted that law enforcement professionals are held to the highest standards to provide the level of public service communities deserve. "Mr. Brooks violated that trust by swearing an oath to uphold the law and then engaging in the very criminal activity he was entrusted to prevent," Stone said.

Timeline

Cooperating witnesses linked Brooks to large-scale cocaine trafficking dating back to the early 2000s. Brooks retired from the Rocky Mount Police Department in 2006. DEA investigators uncovered Brooks' connection to a cocaine trafficker in Richmond, Virginia, in early 2022. A drug trafficker told agents Brooks had been selling up to 5 kilograms of cocaine at a time since 2021.

Investigators determined Brooks would be driving up I-95 to Roanoke Rapids to deliver 9 ounces of cocaine on January 11, 2023. Nash County Sheriff’s Deputies pulled Brooks over after spotting him commit several traffic violations. A K-9 alerted to drugs in Brooks' car during the traffic stop. Brooks carried his police shield and law enforcement ID card at the time of his arrest in January 2023.

Why It Matters

The sentencing of a former police officer for drug trafficking reflects the legal and ethical obligations placed on law enforcement personnel. Officials showed that officers are entrusted with protecting communities rather than exploiting their positions for criminal activity. The case involved multiple agencies, including the DEA, ATF, and local sheriff’s office, demonstrating inter-agency cooperation in addressing corruption and drug distribution.

Statements from federal and local officials emphasized the betrayal of public trust when officers engage in the criminal activities they are sworn to prevent. The sentence serves as a measure of accountability for those who violate their oaths. Community safety and the integrity of law enforcement institutions remain central to the mission described by participating agencies.