Retired Court of Appeals Judge John Douglas McCullough, age 77, of Las Vegas, Nevada, passed away on Tuesday, October 18, 2022. He is survived by the love of his life, Lucci.
Judge Douglas McCullough served twenty-nine years in the United States Marine Corps, and was a federal prosecutor in Philadelphia before becoming Counsel to the Senate Ethics Committee in Washington. He returned to his home state, North Carolina, in 1981 and became the Senior Assistant United States Attorney, where he served until 1996. After four years in private practice, he won his first election to the North Carolina Court of Appeals and was re-elected in 2010.
Former U.S. Attorney Douglas McCullough prosecuted a sophisticated group of drug smugglers and money-launderers that had successfully gained access into Texas, North Carolina, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Michigan, amassing over $50,000,000, which was placed in Panamanian banks with Manuel Noriega’s (1934-2017) assistance. The investigation and apprehension of these smugglers eventually led to the exposure of Noriega as a drug lord and money launderer, although on occasion he’d provided intelligence to the CIA and DEA, and even received an award from President Reagan. A conspiracy that spanned this hemisphere, stretching from Colombia to the Grand Caymans, Jamaica, and the United States, involved local politicians, businessmen, celebrities, and entertainment agents as well as Noriega and members of Colombian drug cartels. This is the only occasion in history where a head of state has been prosecuted in a federal court like any other criminal. Sea of Greed is based on the true story behind the arrest of Manuel Noriega and the invasion of Panama pursuant to “Operation Just Cause.”
Judge McCullough’s military service will be held Friday, November 18, 2022 @ 2PM at the Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery, 110 Montfort Point Road, Jacksonville, North Carolina. Following the ceremony, a celebration of life reception will be held at Captain Ratty’s Seafood & Steakhouse in New Bern @ 4PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html