Nearly $145,000 found in air vents at home of Raleigh firefighter, wife charged with drug trafficking in Glenwood South

Nicholas Banister, a senior firefighter with the Raleigh Fire Department, and his wife, Amanda Banister, are facing 51 charges total in connection to the drugs, which were allegedly sold at local nightclubs on Glenwood South.

In the courtroom, Judge Mark Stevens told the Banisters just how serious the charges were against them, stating if convicted they could face hundreds of years in prison and millions of dollars in fines.

ALE agents raided a home the night of May 15, uncovering a massive stash of illegal drugs and a significant amount of cash.

Investigators initially found more than 10,000 illegal pills, more than a pound of cocaine and nearly $70,000 in cash at the couple's home in the 1500 block of Long Cove Court in Raleigh. 

During another search on May 18, warrants said investigators found nearly $145,000 inside the air vents at the home. Investigators also found marijuana edibles and nearly 1,000 tabs of LSD.

Banister has worked for the city of Raleigh since Jan. 31, 2013. He has been placed on administrative leave, according to the city.

In April, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) launched an investigation after receiving complaints about illegal drugs being sold in and around businesses in the Glenwood South and downtown Raleigh areas.

Undercover ALE special agents purchased cocaine, LSD, ketamine and MDMA from Nicholas Banister and Amanda Banister. The purchase led investigators to search the couple's home on Long Cove Court in Raleigh.

The following drugs were found at the home in what law enforcement called an "elaborate drug trafficking operation":

• 884 grams of cocaine
• 540 grams of ketamine
• 325 grams of MDMA
• 16 pounds of marijuana
• 13.6 ounces of psilocybin mushrooms
• 3,383 methamphetamine pills
• 9,283 Xanax pills
• 216 dosage units of LSD
• Two firearms
• Pill press

$69,050 in U.S. currency was also seized at the home during the initial search on May 15.

Nicholas Banister, 35, of Raleigh, has been charged with the following crimes:

• Possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine (3 counts)
• Selling and delivery of cocaine (3 counts)
• Possession with intent to sell and deliver ketamine (2 counts)
• Selling and delivery of ketamine
• Possession with intent to sell and deliver LSD
• Selling and delivery of LSD
• Possession with intent to sell and deliver MDMA
• Selling and delivery of MDMA
• Conspiracy to sell/distribute cocaine
• Conspiracy to sell/distribute ketamine
• Conspiracy to sell/distribute LSD
• Maintain a vehicle for use, storage and sale of controlled substances (3 counts)
• Trafficking cocaine 4 counts
• Trafficking in MDMA
• Trafficking in amphetamine
• Trafficking in LSD (4 counts)
• Trafficking in marijuana
• Possession with intent to sell and deliver psilocybin mushrooms
• Possession with intent to sell and deliver Xanax
• Maintaining a dwelling to keep and/or sell controlled substances
• Manufacturing MDMA

Amanda Lee Banister, 25, of Raleigh, has been charged with the following crimes:

• Conspiracy to sell and distribute ketamine
• Conspiracy to sell and distribute cocaine (2 counts)
• Conspiracy to sell and distribute LSD
• Possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine
• Selling and delivery of cocaine
• Possession with intent sell and deliver LSD
• Selling and delivery of LSD
• Trafficking in cocaine
• Trafficking in MDMA
• Trafficking in amphetamine
• Trafficking in LSD 2 counts
• Trafficking in marijuana
• Possession with intent to sell and deliver ketamine
• Possession with intent to sell and deliver Xanax
• Possession with intent to sell and deliver psylocibin mushrooms
• Maintaining a dwelling to store controlled substances
• Manufacturing MDMA

The couple, currently in jail, made their first court appearance via video on May 16. If convicted of the crimes, the judge warned the couple they each face more than 100 years in prison and fines of $5.5 million and $930,000.

Both have been given a $4-million bond. In court, the judge said if either were to be released on bond, they must surrender their passports.