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7 Shocking Facts About Master Sergeant William 'Billy' Lavigne II And The Fort Bragg Cartel

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The story of Master Sergeant William “Billy” Lavigne II, an elite operator from the U.S. Army’s secretive Delta Force, is not one of straightforward heroism, but a complex and disturbing tale that has become a national scandal. As of December 22, 2025, his case remains a central focus of investigative reporting and a new book, *The Fort Bragg Cartel*, which alleges a deep-seated culture of drug trafficking and violence within the Special Forces community at Fort Bragg (now Fort Liberty).

Lavigne's life and mysterious death exposed a dark underbelly of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) world, challenging the public perception of America's most elite "black ops" unit. His story is intrinsically linked to a string of violent deaths and a culture of impunity that has shocked the military and civilian communities alike.

Master Sergeant William “Billy” Lavigne II: A Brief Biography

William “Billy” Lavigne II was a highly decorated and experienced Special Forces soldier whose career spanned two decades and multiple combat zones. However, his life was also marked by personal tragedy and significant controversy, which came to light following his death.

  • Full Name: William J. Lavigne II
  • Nickname: Billy Lavigne
  • Rank: Master Sergeant (MSG)
  • Unit: U.S. Army Delta Force (1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, or 1st SFOD-D)
  • Enlistment Date: 2001
  • Special Forces Graduation: 2007 (Special Forces Qualification Course)
  • Primary Assignment: 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) (USASOC)
  • Deployments: Deployed multiple times, including to Afghanistan, with a total of 14 deployments cited.
  • Controversies: Involved in the killing of his best friend, Green Beret Mark Leshikar, but was not removed from Delta Force. Tested positive for cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin in 2019.
  • Death: Found dead on December 12, 2020, alongside Chief Warrant Officer Timothy Dumas Sr. on Fort Bragg.
  • Age at Death: 37

The Mysterious Circumstances of His Death at Fort Bragg

The discovery of Master Sergeant Lavigne's body in December 2020 immediately drew national attention, not only because of his elite status as a Delta Force operator but also due to the troubling context of his passing.

Found Dead in "Ranger Panties"

Lavigne was found dead in a training area on Fort Bragg, alongside Chief Warrant Officer Timothy Dumas Sr., a logistics and supply soldier. The scene was inexplicable to investigators, as it appeared he had been killed in his sleep. He was reportedly wearing only a pair of skimpy running shorts, colloquially known in the Army as "ranger panties."

An Ongoing String of Violent Deaths

Lavigne and Dumas’s deaths were part of a disturbing pattern—a string of violent and suspicious deaths at the massive military base. This pattern raised serious questions about the internal environment and the lack of oversight within the Special Forces community. The area surrounding Fort Bragg, particularly the town of Vass, is home to a "hush-hush community" of current and former Delta Force operators.

The Drug Trafficking Connection

The investigation into Lavigne’s death quickly became entangled with allegations of widespread drug use and trafficking. Army records confirmed that Lavigne had tested positive for illicit drugs—cocaine, meth, and heroin—on three separate occasions in 2019. This revelation pointed to a dark secret: that drug use was not only present but potentially tolerated or overlooked within the highest echelons of the Special Forces.

The Fort Bragg Cartel: Exposing the Special Forces Underbelly

The most recent and definitive information regarding Lavigne’s case comes from the 2024 book, *The Fort Bragg Cartel: Drug Trafficking and Murder in the Special Forces* by investigative journalist Seth Harp. This book positions Lavigne’s story as a key example of systemic rot within the Special Forces.

A Culture of Impunity and Violence

Harp’s reporting highlights that Lavigne was a central figure in a culture where rules often did not apply. A particularly egregious example cited is Lavigne’s previous killing of his best friend, Green Beret Mark Leshikar. Despite this incident, Lavigne was not expelled from Delta Force. This suggests a powerful protective mechanism for elite operators, even in the face of criminal acts, an issue Harp’s book explores in detail.

The Black Ops Connection

Delta Force is the Army's most selective and clandestine "black ops" unit. Lavigne’s high-level status within this organization meant he was deployed 14 times, often in high-stakes, secretive missions. The book posits that the intense operational tempo and the secretive nature of the work created an environment ripe for corruption and a breakdown of military discipline.

The Wider Implications for USASOC

The scandal surrounding Lavigne and the revelations in *The Fort Bragg Cartel* have had wide-ranging implications for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). The narrative is not just about a single operator but about the institutional failure to address drug use, violence, and a "rot" that extended to the highest ranks, including a top career counselor who was a Sergeant Major. The case serves as a stark reminder of the human cost when the military service ruins its own members, even those considered the best of the best.

william lavigne delta force
william lavigne delta force

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