Eastern District of North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. – A Jacksonville man was sentenced today to 164 months in prison for trafficking heroin and fentanyl from September 2020, through January 2021.  On June 8, 2022, Steven Rolle, also known as “Bank Rolle” pled guilty to two counts of heroin and fentanyl trafficking.  According to court documents and other information presented in court, Rolle, who has a prior federal conviction for trafficking in heroin, two assault on a female convictions, and an armed robbery conviction, began trafficking in large amounts of fentanyl less than a year after completing his federal supervised release.

At sentencing, U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle found that Rolle was responsible for selling at least 172 grams of fentanyl and 27 grams of heroin, maintained a premises for manufacturing or distribution of the drugs, possessed a firearm in connection with his drug trafficking operations, and attempted to obstruct the Government’s investigation by intimidating a witness through Facebook posts.  After Rolle completes his federal prison sentence, he will be on supervised release for 48 months. 

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Jacksonville Police Department, the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, and the ATF Wilmington Resident Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis M. Duffy prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-00018-BO-1.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Anthony Jackson, 32, of Wilmington, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for distribution of a quantity of methamphetamine. Jackson was released from North Carolina State prison in January 2021 after serving an approximately 12-year sentence for Second Degree Murder.  According to the evidence, on November 2, 2021, Jackson and another person arrived at a location in Brunswick County where Jackson sold an undercover ATF agent 27 grams of actual methamphetamine.  Following the sale, law enforcement received information that Jackson had driven to the deal with a semi-automatic handgun in the center console of his car.

This is part of “Operation Golfer” which is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, the New Hanover and Brunswick County Sheriffs’ Offices investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gabe Diaz and Timothy Severo  prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:22-cr-00039-BO-1.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Israel Ramos Ponce, 24, of Winston Salem was sentenced to yesterday 151 months in prison for trafficking methamphetamine. On May 18, Ponce pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine and Distribution of 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine. 

According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, and the Winston-Salem Police Department received information that Ponce was part of a large-scale drug trafficking organization in 2018. The organization operated in Winston-Salem, and it distributed significant quantities of crystal methamphetamine to the Goldsboro area. During the investigation, law enforcement learned that Ponce was a courier who assisted co-defendant Kelvin Vincente Noyola, a/k/a “Tripp,” in the distribution of significant quantities of methamphetamine to customers of the organization.  Over the course of the conspiracy, Ponce was responsible for assisting in the distribution of at least 933.5 grams of crystal methamphetamine.

Co-defendant, Kelvin Vicente Noyola, a/k/a “Tripp,” was also charged and convicted in this investigation.  Noyola pled guilty on July 25, 2022, to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess With Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine and Distribution of 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine, aiding and abetting.  Noyola’s sentencing is pending.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Court Judge James C. Dever II. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, and the Winston-Salem Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number 5:22-CR-00010-D.

RALEIGH, N.C. – A Wake County man was sentenced yesterday to 210 months imprisonment followed by 20 years of supervised release for transporting and possessing child pornography.  Spencer Charles Thomas Crocker, 23, of Cary, North Carolina pleaded guilty on February 16, 2022 to the charges. 

According to court documents and other information presented in court, The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received twelve Cyber Tips regarding the uploading of child pornography to Google accounts.  The IP address was being leased to Crocker’s father with an associated address in Cary.  Other information included with the Cyber Tips led law enforcement to believe the person uploading the child sexual abuse material was Crocker.

Law enforcement received a search warrant for the Google account associated with the Cyber Tips.  Within the Google account, they found more than 2,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse material.  They identified the account belonged to Crocker by photos of himself and various receipts for online purchases with his information included within that account. 

Based on evidence from the Google account, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Crocker’s residence.  Crocker was present when the search warrant was executed and admitted he was intentionally seeking out child pornography on the dark web.  Law enforcement learned Crocker had Mega, Dropbox and Microsoft OneDrive accounts and executed search warrants for content of all the accounts.  They discovered over 4,500 additional images and videos of child sexual abuse material in those accounts. 

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing was concluded.  U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III presided over the sentencing.  Cary Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-CR-00429-D.

NEW BERN, N.C. – A Wilmington man was sentenced today to 72 months in prison for illegal firearm possession. On June 24, 2022, Quemar Deshawn Wooten, age 35, pleaded guilty to the Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, in February of 2021, members of the Wilmington Police Department received several complaints regarding narcotics sales and people with firearms on the porch of a residence on Meares Street. Officers conducted surveillance on the residence over several days and it was apparent that drug transactions were being conducted. On February 27, 2021, officers approached the residence and made contact with Michael Hines, Quemar Wooten, and another individual on the front porch. During their investigation, officers located a stolen firearm in Wooten’s waistband and another firearm underneath a sweatshirt belonging to Hines.

Hines pleaded guilty to firearms charges on August 12, 2022 and is awaiting sentencing. 

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan.  The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Wilmington Police Department’s Gun Crime Task Force, the Wilmington Police Department, and the New Hanover Sheriff’s Department investigated the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney William Van Trigt prosecuted the case. Van Trigt is a prosecutor with the New Hanover County District Attorney’s Office assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal violent crimes and other criminal matters.  This has been made possible by a grant funded by New Hanover County.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. 

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:22-cr-00055-FL.

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RALEIGH, N.C. – Massimo Campana, 31, of Wilmington, was sentenced last week to 144 months in prison for armed drug trafficking. On May 25, 2022, Campana pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Quantity of a Substance containing Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. The investigation uncovered that from August 2021 until the time of his arrest, Campana took part in a conspiracy that was responsible for the distribution of more than 3 kilograms of methamphetamine. Campana was on federal supervised release at the time he committed these offenses.

“This is yet another example of the collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement to disrupt the drug trafficking organizations that are engaged in violence in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “We are successfully investigating and prosecuting these cases to put violent criminals behind bars.”

“Fighting the threat of illegal firearms and dangerous narcotics is always a joint effort,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “ATF’s work with our local law enforcement partners, along with our U.S. Attorney, continues to take these threats out of our communities and better public safety.”

“I am very proud of the men and women of the Wilmington Police Department for making this arrest and getting this violent criminal off the streets. I also would like to thank the United States Attorney’s Office and our partner agencies both local, state, and federal who work with us consistently to put these individuals behind bars. We are committed to reducing violence within our community and will continue to work tirelessly to get drugs off of our streets to create a safe environment for all,” said Wilmington Police Chief Donny Williams.

According to court documents and other evidence presented in court, on September 15, 2021, an ATF undercover agent made a controlled purchase of an ounce of methamphetamine from Campana at a business in Brunswick County. During the deal Campana bragged about the potency of his methamphetamine.

On October 20, 2021, a Wilmington Police Officer observed Campana driving a car with a fictious tag leaving a hotel on Market Street.  The officer attempted to stop the car.  Campana refused to stop and traveled at speeds in excess of 70 miles an hour on the city streets in an attempt to elude law enforcement.  When law enforcement finally boxed in Capana at the intersection of Wrightsville and South College Road, Campana put his car in reverse and rammed a police vehicle.  An officer had to break the driver side window to remove Campana from his car at gun point as he attempted to flee the scene.  During of a search of Campana, officers found a quantity of methamphetamine and a loaded .380 caliber handgun.

This is part of operation “Golfer” which is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Drug Enforcement Administration, the New Hanover and Brunswick County Sheriffs’ Offices and the Wilmington Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabe Diaz and Timothy Severo  prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:22-CR-00027-BO.

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NEW BERN, N.C. – Jaquan Raqueze Harris, 27, man pleaded guilty today to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. For this charge, Harris faces up to ten (10) years’ imprisonment.  Harris is from Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

According to information presented in court and court documents, Harris illegally possessed a firearm when he shot indiscriminately into multiple homes along Parkridge Road and Walbrook Court, in Rocky Mount. On May 19, 2021, the Rocky Mount Police Department responded to a Shots Fired call at the corner of the 1700 block of Parkridge Road. Witnesses on scene advised they heard between 20 and 30 gunshots in a rapid succession late at night. Multiple residents on the block had projectiles strike and enter their homes and vehicles. Officers recovered over 25 spent shell casings and a semi-automatic rifle at the crime scene. Surveillance footage from a resident’s home security system captured Harris behind the home and armed with a black-in-color semi-automatic rifle. Harris is observed yelling and firing his rifle indiscriminately before fleeing the scene on foot and discarding the rifle. Rocky Mount Police arrested Harris the next day. Ballistics testing confirmed the spent shell casings from the crime scene matched the rifle Harris left at the crime scene. Harris was a convicted felon at the time and was prohibited from possessing firearms.

The conviction is a result of the ongoing Violent Crime Action Plan (VCAP) initiative which is collaborative effort with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, working with the community, to identify and address the most significant drivers of violent crime. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert B. Jones, Jr. accepted the plea. The Rocky Mount Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aakash Singh is prosecuting the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-CR-120-FL.

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NEW BERN, N.C. – Kelvin Earl Pittman, 46, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and firearm charges. For these charges, Pittman faces a mandatory sentence of ten (10) years’ imprisonment. Pittman is from Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

According to information presented in court and court documents, Pittman conspired with others to sell guns and cocaine base (crack) illegally in Rocky Mount between August 2020 and January 2021. The Nash County Sheriff’s Office’s investigation captured Pittman on video conducting multiple drug and firearm sales from his residence. Pittman held himself out as a dealer of firearms and provided discounts to buyers if they purchased drugs and firearms together. In total, the Sheriff’s Office seized over an ounce of cocaine base (crack) and four (4) firearms from Pittman. Pittman was a convicted felon at the time and was prohibited from possessing firearms.

Pittman pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute 28 Grams or More of Cocaine Base (Crack), Distribution of a Quantity of Cocaine Base (Crack), Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

The conviction is a result of the ongoing Violent Crime Action Plan (VCAP) initiative which is collaborative effort with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, working with the community, to identify and address the most significant drivers of violent crime. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert B. Jones, Jr. accepted the plea. The Nash County Sheriff’s Office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aakash Singh is prosecuting the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-CR-71-FL.

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NEW BERN, N.C. – James Craig Bell, 63, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to defraud Medicare, North Carolina Medicaid, and private health insurers through his pharmacy in Red Springs that operated under the name Townsend’s Pharmacy.

“This defendant lined his own pockets with money intended to provide vital prescription drugs for the poor and disadvantaged,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “We will continue to investigate and prosecute shady schemes like this.”  

“Submitting false and excessive claims to Medicare and Medicaid undermines the integrity of federal health care programs and wastes valuable taxpayer dollars,” said Tamala E. Miles, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG works tirelessly along with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable perpetrators of federal health care fraud.”

“Medications are expensive enough without pharmacy owners defrauding Medicaid and ripping off taxpayers,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “These resources are meant to help people get the care and prescriptions they need. I’m grateful for U.S. Attorney Easley and his office’s partnership with my Medicaid Investigations team to hold accountable health care providers who waste these resources.”

According to the criminal information and evidence summarized in Court, beginning as early as 2006 through July 2017, Bell, acting through Townsend’s Pharmacy, billed Medicare, Medicaid, and various private health plans for prescription drugs that were never actually dispensed by the pharmacy.  Bell conspired with his employee, Melisha West, 51, of Raleigh. West began independently running the pharmacy’s operations while Bell continued to knowingly profit from the fraudulent billing practices.  West pleaded guilty to Healthcare Fraud in January 2022 for her role in the scheme and her sentencing hearing is set for the January 3, 2023 term of court.  Bell had trained West and other employees on how to bill health care benefit plans for drugs that were not authorized or dispensed.  Bell also trained employees to falsely reauthorize a previously existing prescription from a licensed medical professional, and, how to falsely bill health care benefit programs as though a drug had been dispensed.

Bell pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Healthcare Fraud.  He faces up to 10 years in prison and a potential fine. Sentencing before United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan is scheduled to occur early next year.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after United States Magistrate Judge Robert Jones accepted the plea. The United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General and the North Carolina Medicaid Criminal Investigation Unit are investigating the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys William M. Gilmore and David G. Beraka are prosecuting the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:22-cr-107-FL.

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RALEIGH, N.C. – A Fayetteville woman was sentenced today to 54 months in prison for her role in a “card-cracking” scheme that caused a total loss of over $430,000 to several financial institutions. On June 8, 2022, Ericka Andrea Monique Johnson, 28, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. In addition to her sentence, she will also be required to pay $62,118 in restitution.

According to court documents, Johnson and others engaged in a scheme colloquially known as “card-cracking,” where she made check deposits, often via Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), into checking accounts opened using the personal identifying information of unsuspecting victim account holders.  After the deposits were made, Johnson made point of sale (POS) purchases and cash withdrawals against the deposit credit to obtain money during the “float” period before the financial institution recognized the fraud.  The documents allege that between March 2018 and June 2020, Johnson and her co-conspirators withdrew and received over $430,000 from the Pentagon Federal Credit Union. 

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. U.S. Department of the Treasury - Office of Inspector General and the Fayetteville Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Ontjes is prosecuting the case.

Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.5:20-cr-334-BO-1.

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Justice Department announced today the results of its efforts over the past year to protect older adults from fraud and exploitation. During the past year, the Department and its law enforcement partners tackled matters that ranged from mass-marketing scams that impacted thousands of victims to bad actors scamming their neighbors. Substantial efforts were also made over the last year to return money to fraud victims. Today, the Department also announced it is expanding its Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force to amplify efforts to combat scams originating overseas.

 “We are intensifying our efforts nationwide to protect older adults, including by more than tripling the number of U.S. Attorneys’ offices participating in our Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force dedicated to disrupting, dismantling and prosecuting foreign-based fraud schemes that target American seniors,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This expansion builds on the Justice Department’s existing work to hold accountable those who steal funds from older adults, including by returning those funds to the victims where possible.”

“Our seniors and older adults deserve our greatest care and respect,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Our office will continue to investigate and prosecute those that target the most vulnerable among us. In the past year alone, we have put individuals behind bars for scams that involved stealing government benefits, pensions and fake romances.”

During the period from September 2021 to September 2022, Department personnel and its law enforcement partners pursued approximately 260 cases involving more than 600 defendants, both bringing new cases and advancing those previously charged.

This past year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina prosecuted 3 cases in support of this effort.  On October 15, 2021, a Raeford, North Carolina woman, Tracey McNeill, was sentenced to 12 months and a day imprisonment for wire fraud.  According to court documents, McNeill worked as a certified nursing assistant.  Over a two-year period, McNeill fraudulently obtained Veterans Affairs (VA) and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) benefits by executing a power of attorney over a disabled U.S. Army veteran in her care.  The investigation revealed that McNeill arranged for the victim, whom had dementia, to move into her home and then directed the VA and OPM to deposit his benefits into her bank account.  A financial analysis showed that McNeill spent most of the funds on personal expenses, including rent, utilities, credit card payments, and personal purchases.  In addition, McNeill completed beneficiary forms in which she listed herself as the beneficiary of the victim’s retirement and life insurance benefits. 

On February 3, 2022, a Raleigh, North Carolina man, Furman Ford, was sentenced to 132 months in prison for mail fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.  According to court records and other evidence presented at trial, Ford was a New York Life (NYL) financial advisor who advised a 72-year-old client who had recently inherited real property valued at $1.3 million.  Ford assisted in the sale of the property and the creation of a charitable annuity trust with NYL using the sale proceeds.  As part of his responsibilities as the victim’s financial agent, Ford drafted and submitted letters of withdrawal from the victim’s annuity account to pay for certain expenses.  During the investigation, agents identified 20 separate fraudulent letters of withdrawal drafted by Ford and submitted to NYL headquarters on behalf of the victim.  The funds were diverted to Ford’s personal checking account without the victim’s knowledge or consent and used to fund Ford’s purchase of various personal items, including a BMW vehicle, Rolex watches, firearms, child support, and a cruise to the Bahamas.  In total, Ford stole over $1.3 million from the victim.

On March 17, 2022, a Smyrna, Georgia man, Oluwadamilare Kolaogunbule, was sentenced to 71 months in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering.  According to court documents and other information presented in court, between 2014 and 2018, Kolaogunbule opened, maintained, and controlled approximately 20 different bank accounts at multiple financial institutions that were used to launder approximately $2.5 million in romance scam proceeds.  Romance scammers exploit victims who are looking for companionship by creating fake profiles on online dating websites that include false personal details, such as the death of a spouse or military service.  After creating the illusion of a romantic relationship to gain the victim’s trust, the scammer will typically solicit the victim for money to alleviate some fabricated crisis, such as a medical or business emergency.  In this case, more than 60 victims from across the United States, many of whom were elderly, were defrauded by romance fraudsters who directed them to send funds to Kolaogunbule’s various accounts.

The Department also highlighted three other efforts: expansion of the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force, success in returning money to victims and efforts to combat grandparent scams. 

The Department announced that as part of its continuing efforts to protect older adults and bring perpetrators of fraud schemes to justice it is expanding the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force, adding 14 new U.S. Attorney’s Offices. Expansion of the Strike Force will help to coordinate the Department’s ongoing efforts to combat largest and most harmful fraud schemes that target or disproportionately impact older adults.

In the past year, the Department has notified over 550,000 people that they may be eligible for remission payments. Notifications were made to consumers whose information was sold by one of three data companies prosecuted by the Department and were later victims of “sweepstakes” or “astrology” solicitations that falsely promised prizes or individualized services in return for a fee. More than 150,000 of those victims cashed checks totaling $52 million, and thousands more are eligible to receive checks. Also notified were consumers who paid fraudsters perpetrating person-in-need scams and job scams via Western Union. In the past year, the Department has identified and contacted over 300,000 consumers who may be eligible for remission. Since March of 2020 more than 148,000 victims have received more than $366 million as a result of a 2017 criminal resolution with Western Union for the company’s willful failure to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and its aiding and abetting of wire fraud.

Over the past year, the Department pursued cases against the perpetrators of “grandparent scams,” otherwise known as “person-in-need scams.” These scams typically begin when a fraudster, often based overseas, contacts an older adult and poses as either a grandchild, other family member or someone calling on behalf of a family member. Call recipients are told that their family member is in jeopardy and is urgently in need of money.   When recently sentencing one of eight perpetrators of a grandparent scam indicted under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a federal judge described such scams “heartbreakingly evil.” The Department is working with government partners and others to raise awareness about these schemes.

Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcements efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professional who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting or connect them with agencies, and provide resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. [ET]. English, Spanish and other languages are available. More information about the Department’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website, www.elderjustice.gov.

Some of the cases that comprise today’s announcement are charges, which are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

NEW BERN, N.C. – A New Bern man was sentenced on September 30, 2022, to 118 months in prison  and 60 months of supervised release for trafficking heroin and fentanyl in December 2018 and January 2019.  On April 15, 2022, Quentin Tavaris Bryant pleaded guilty to the charges.

“Working together with law enforcement, we are investigating and prosecuting those that are bringing deadly fentanyl into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “This defendant will trade his time dealing drugs for time behind bars.”

“I express my appreciation to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for vigorously prosecuting Bryant and obtaining an active prison sentence,” said Craven County Sheriff Chip Hughes.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Bryant, previously convicted on state charges for cocaine trafficking, began trafficking in heroin and fentanyl in 2018.  After conducting several controlled purchases of heroin from Bryant, Craven County Sheriff’s Office deputies witnessed him make a drug sale from his car.  Deputies observed Bryant return home and then drive away.  A deputy began following Bryant and activated blue lights and siren to conduct a traffic stop.  In response, Bryant accelerated and changed lanes. During the chase, deputies saw Bryant throw items out the window, including a bag that landed on church property in New Bern. During his attempt to flee, Bryant drove in excess of 110 miles per hour, ignored stop signs, and continued to throw items out his window. 

After Bryant was apprehended, deputies recovered items along the chase route they had witnessed were thrown from the car including the large plastic bag at the church which contained loose rice and a second bag inside that contained an off-white substance.  They also recovered a  plastic bag of white powder on a bridge. Sheriff’s Office deputies executed a search warrant at Bryant’s home and seized $15,000, a drug sales ledger and many items in a plastic storage bin appearing to be a drug manufacturing/packaging station.  The N.C. Crime Lab analyzed the materials from the search and the chase and found 131.86 grams of heroin/fentanyl; 57.5 grams of powder cocaine; and 14.49 grams of crack cocaine.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Craven County Sheriff’s Office and the DEA Wilmington Resident Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis M. Duffy prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:19-CR-00085-FL.

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RALEIGH, N.C. – Lamarious Brown, 25, of Fayetteville was sentenced today to 90 months imprisonment followed by 60 months of supervised release for armed drug trafficking after a security check at a Fayetteville club uncovered multiple loaded firearms, ammunition, and quantities of narcotics in Brown’s car.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, the Fayetteville Police Department was conducting a security check in a parking lot outside a club in Fayetteville after receiving complaints of drug activity and shootings.  As they walked past a Chevrolet Tahoe, an officer saw an AR style rifle on the rear floorboard of the vehicle.  The officers waited to see who came out to the car.  Sometime later, Brown came out of the club and unlocked the car with a key fob.  When officers approached Brown to talk to him, he ran away from the officers but was apprehended shortly thereafter.

A K9 was called to the parking lot and alerted to the odor of narcotics on the car.  A search of the car ensued, and officers found a loaded AR-15 rifle with a 30-round magazine, a loaded .40 caliber firearm with 20 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition, 46 rounds of .223 ammunition, 5.77 grams of heroin and 1.93 grams of cocaine. After his arrest, law enforcement heard Brown talking on jail calls where he admitted to selling drugs to someone right before he went to the club and tried to convince another person to say the firearms belonged to them so that he could avoid further charges since he was a felon.  Brown pleaded guilty on June 24, 2022, to Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Cocaine and for Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.     

Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing was concluded.  U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III presided over the sentencing.  The Fayetteville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:18-cr-00259-D-1.

RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal inmate was sentenced today to 30 months for attempting to escape from the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, North Carolina (“FCI Butner”). 

According to court documents, Charles Asher, 62, an inmate at FCI Butner at the time of the offense, was found hiding in the bushes on the compound at approximately 9:00 p.m. on September 14, 2020, near the exit door of the institution.  At the time he was discovered, Asher was required per FCI Butner orders and policy to be in his assigned housing unit.  Asher was found with multiple unauthorized items that could be used to effectuate an escape, including: a homemade rope approximately 14 feet in length, grey gloves, a blue mattress cover, and a homemade cardboard replica handgun wrapped with black electrical tape.

Asher previously pled guilty to the sole count of attempted escape from prison pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 751(a), on June 9, 2022.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced Asher. The Federal Bureau of Prisons investigated the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Brooks Storus prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-CR-00120-BO.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Kala Sloan, 28, pleaded guilty today to falsifying physician orders on behalf of a company that billed Medicare for millions of dollars. According to the criminal information and evidence summarized in Court, between 2014 and 2021, Carolina Rehab Products, Inc. (CRP) and Blue File DMC, LLC (Blue File) billed Medicare $50 million for durable medical equipment, such as back, shoulder, knee and wrist braces. The evidence showed that, in many instances, CRP and Blue File billed Medicare without supporting physician orders and without shipping the products.  Tanya Parrish Grant, 51, of Raleigh, Sloan’s co-conspirator, was the CEO and Controller of the companies. Grant pled guilty to Healthcare Fraud in July of 2022 for her role as the orchestrator of the scheme. 

Sloan was the Vice President of Operations for the companies, and knowingly submitted forged documents to prevent Medicare auditors from discovering prior false billings and recouping money.  In October 2020, Cigna, a Medicare Advantage insurer, conducted an audit of claims submitted by CRP for reimbursement.  According to the evidence presented in court, CRP did not have doctor’s orders or medical records sufficient to justify the billing to Cigna.  At the direction of Grant, Sloan prepared blank prescription templates to mimic the orders that should have been in the patient files.  Grant used the templates to forge and backdate the prescriptions to deceive auditors.  Sloan the provided these documents to Cigna as though they were genuine and in existence prior to the audits.

Sloan pleaded guilty to Making/Using False Healthcare Writings and Documents and Aiding and Abetting.  She faces a maximum of up to five years in prison.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle accepted the plea. The United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation,  investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys William M. Gilmore and Karen Haughton are prosecuting the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-00191-BO.

RALEIGH, N.C. – A Flushing, NY woman was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for making bribe payments to protect her illicit massage parlors in Cary and Wilmington from law enforcement scrutiny in 2020 and 2021. On March 31, 2022, Xiang Yue Jin pled guilty to the charge. She was also fined $50,000 and ordered to forfeit $90,000.

According to court documents, in August 2020, the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began an investigation into illicit massage parlors in Durham, Raleigh, and Wilmington, where clients could obtain sexual services. A source arranged a meeting at which Jin met an HSI agent who was serving in an undercover capacity by posing as a corrupt federal agent. Jin, who owned two illicit massage parlors – one in Cary and one in Wilmington – arranged to pay the undercover agent $2,000 each month to avoid law enforcement scrutiny. From August 2020 until June 2021, Jin paid a total of $18,000 in bribes to the undercover agent. Jin also asked the undercover agent to perform “checks” at competing businesses to scare away customers and possibly allow her to purchase additional parlors at a reduced price, and even asked the undercover agent to invest in additional parlors with her. In April and May 2021, investigators conducted surveillance at Jin’s parlors and initiated traffic stops with clients seen entering and leaving the businesses and nearly every customer admitted to receiving sexual services from the masseuses employed by Jin. On June 16, 2021, with the assistance of numerous law enforcement agencies, HSI led a coordinated takedown across four different federal districts that included the execution of search warrants at eight different massage parlors, multiple residences, and the arrest of six individuals. The takedown included two illicit massage parlors (Cary and Wilmington) owned and operated by Jin, and a Cary apartment Jin leased.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, the Cary Police Department, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, the Wilmington Police Department, the Horry County Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and other state and local investigators.. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Blondel and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Stephany prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-CR-00266-BO.

RALEIGH, N.C. – The former finance director and accounting technician for the Town of Spring Lake, Gay Cameron Tucker, pled guilty today to embezzling over $500,000 from the Town of Spring Lake between 2016 and 2021.

“Public officials are entrusted to protect public funds,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “This defendant breached the public’s trust by using public funds intended for her local community to pay her own personal expenses. Public corruption is a crime that affects all of us and undermines our public institutions.  Our office will continue partnering with law enforcement to investigate allegations of public corruption in any form.”

Tucker, 64, of Fayetteville, wrote checks from the Town’s bank accounts for her personal use, forging the signatures of other town officials, including the mayor and town manager.  These forged checks were made payable to herself, used to cover her personal expenses, and deposited into bank accounts she controlled. 

Tucker pled guilty to one count of Embezzlement from a Local Government Receiving Federal Funds, and one count of Aggravated Identity Theft.  Tucker faces up to 12 years in prison.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys William M. Gilmore and Karen Haughton are prosecuting the case.

Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No 5:22-CR-00118.

WASHINGTON – Two North Carolina women pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud the United States by preparing false tax returns for clients and causing them to be filed with the IRS. In total, Hawkins, Ricks, and their co-conspirators caused more than 1,000 false tax returns to be filed with the IRS that claimed a total of approximately $5 million in fraudulent refunds.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from approximately 2009 through 2018 Betty Hawkins, 51, and Phyllis Ricks, 63, both of Rocky Mount, conspired with others to file false tax returns for clients of the tax preparation businesses where they both worked. These returns included fictitious federal income tax withholding figures as well as other fraudulent items that generated fraudulent refunds the clients were not entitled to receive.

Hawkins and Ricks are scheduled to be sentenced on December 16, 2022. Both women face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States. They also face a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement.

IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Michael Jones and Mary Frances Richardson of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Menzer are prosecuting the case.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Yesterday, a jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina found defendants Chad Cline and BJ Trucking Company, Inc. liable for $1,679,086 worth of unauthorized fuel purchases under United States Postal Service contracts, in violation of the False Claims Act.  The jury also found that while BJ Trucking was insolvent and owed a substantial debt to the United States, it transferred $439,015 to company insiders—including to Defendant Doug Cline—in violation of the Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act.  This jury verdict will allow the recovery of more than $5 million to the government in addition to civil penalties to be determined by the judge.

“This civil fraud trial demonstrates our firm commitment to protect taxpayer money and to guard the integrity of federal programs,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley.  “Our office will zealously pursue those who misuse or abuse government funds.”   

“We are gratified to have contributed to this investigation and applaud the exceptional work by the United States Attorney’s Office for protecting both U.S. Postal Service funds and the integrity of our fuel card program,” said Executive Special Agent in Charge Kenneth Cleevely of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General. 

BJ Trucking was a Greensboro, N.C.-based trucking company that hauled mail for the Postal Service.  Doug Cline owned the company, and his son, Chad Cline, managed its day-to-day operations.  The Postal Service issued fuel cards that BJ Trucking was permitted to use to purchase fuel on authorized Postal Service routes, up to a designated amount.  The Postal Service, in turn, would pay for the fuel purchased with the fuel cards.  Although the company’s contracts with the Postal Service expressly prohibited excessive purchases on the fuel card, and expressly warned that unauthorized fuel card use could lead to False Claims Act liability, BJ Trucking routinely used its cards between 2014 and 2015 to purchase hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel above the authorized limits, spending millions of Government dollars that the company was not entitled to.  The Government recovered a large portion of that money by withholding payments to BJ Trucking, and pursued the remainder through this litigation.

In addition, while the company was insolvent, struggling to make its payroll and pay other bills, and indebted to the United States, it transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars to its corporate insiders, including Doug Cline, his sister, and another company that he ran.  The United States pursued those fraudulent transfers in this litigation.

The jury found that BJ Trucking and Chad Cline submitted or caused the submission of 29 false claims, costing the United States $1,679,086 in damages.  The jury also found that BJ Trucking unlawfully transferred $439,015 to company insiders. The False Claims Act allows the United States to recover triple the money falsely obtained, plus civil penalties for each false claim submitted.  Among other things, the Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act allows the United States to void and recover preferential transfers to insiders.

The verdict obtained in this matter was the culmination of a coordinated effort between the United States Attorney’s Office and the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Neal Fowler and Michael Anderson represented the United States in this case.  This matter was investigated by the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General. 

Related court documents and information from the civil lawsuit are on PACER by searching for Case No.5:19-CV-94-D.

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RALEIGH, N.C. – Shawn Edward Good of Wilmington, pleaded guilty today for his role in a $7 million dollar investment fraud scheme. Good pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering and faces up to 360 months in prison.

“We are cracking down on fraudsters who scam unwitting investors,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley.  “This investment advisor breached the trust of at least a dozen clients, taking over $7 million – money he promised would go to low-risk investments – and used it to line his pockets, buying real estate, luxury cars, and vacations.  This decade-long scam has finally come to an end.”   

"High yield investment fraud schemes are designed to appeal to people's hope that 'you can get something for nothing,' often resulting in the total loss of the investment," said Donald “Trey” Eakins, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Charlotte field office. “Be assured that IRS Criminal Investigation, together with our partners at North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the U.S. Attorney's Office, will hold those who engage in similar behavior fully accountable."

According to court documents and information presented in court, Good was employed as a registered representative and investment advisor for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC in Wilmington.  From 2012 to February 2022, Good executed a scheme to obtain money through investment fraud, commonly known as a Ponzi scheme.  Specifically, Good solicited investments from business clients and others for purported real estate projects and tax-free municipal bonds, touting these opportunities as low-risk investments that would pay returns of between 6% and 10% over three- or six-month terms.

To effectuate these investments, Good caused some clients to obtain a liquid asset line of credit (LAL) secured by their Morgan Stanley investment or retirement accounts.  Good directed clients to transfer the LAL funds to their personal bank accounts and then wire the funds directly to Good’s personal bank account.  Other victims paid Good by paper check and wire transfers using funds derived from sources other than Morgan Stanley accounts. 

At least 12 victims invested approximately $7,246,300 based on false statements and misrepresentations made by Good.  Instead of investing in land development or bonds, Good used the money for personal expenditures including his Wilmington residence; a condominium in Florida; luxury vehicles including a Mercedes Benz, a Porsche Boxster, a Tesla Model 3, an Alpha Romeo Stelvio, and a Lexus RX350; fine dining; and vacations to Paris, France; Cinca Terra, Italy; Jackson, Wyoming; Las Vegas, Nevada; and other destinations.  To lend credibility to the Ponzi scheme and to elude detection, Good also used a portion of investor funds to make payments to earlier investors.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after United States Magistrate Judge Robert T. Numbers, Jr. accepted the plea. The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations Unit and the N.C.  State Bureau of Investigation Financial Crimes Unit are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Toby Lathan is prosecuting the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:22-CR-00096-D.  

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ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – A Swansboro man was sentenced today to 500 months of imprisonment, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for producing and distributing child pornography.  William Thomas Bailey, 42, pled guilty to the charges on January 4, 2022.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Bailey was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security in early 2018 after being identified as part of an online group trading child pornography.  An email address belonging to Bailey was used to trade child pornography with multiple users in addition, agents discovered an email where Bailey bragged to someone about sexually abusing a very young child. 

During the execution of a search warrant over 300 images and videos of child sexual abuse were discovered on his cell phone.  In addition, there were 11 images and 1 video depicting the sexual abuse of a 2-year-old toddler created using Bailey’s cell phone.  Agents were able to identify the child as someone with whom Bailey had direct contact. During the forensic analysis of Bailey’s phone, agents discovered that Bailey had distributed the child’s images and video multiple times to others seeking out child pornography. 

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing was concluded.  U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle presided over the sentencing.  The Department of Homeland Security investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No 4:2020cr00056.

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ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – A Raleigh, North Carolina man, Carl Edwin Parker, Jr., was sentenced today to 63 months in prison and five years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit bank fraud.  On October 20, 2021, Parker pleaded guilty to the charge.  As part of sentencing, Parker was further ordered to pay criminal restitution to State Employees’ Credit Union. 

According to court documents and other information presented in court, between approximately May 2019 and April 2020, Parker and his co-conspirators stole checks from residential mailboxes and altered them to make them payable to individuals that were recruited to serve as “money mules.”  The “money mules” agreed to deposit the altered checks into their bank accounts, after which Parker and his co-conspirators cashed out the stolen funds at area ATMs.  Parker and his fraud ring stole checks from more than 100 victims and caused financial losses of more than $150,000.  In 2017, Parker was convicted of federal bank fraud for engaging in similar activity in the Eastern District of North Carolina. 

Parker’s co-conspirators in the current case included Khristopher Taion Stukes, Kauri Maleek Johnson-Chavis, and Jallani Jewels Stewart.  Each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud in separate related cases.  Stewart was sentenced on March 31, 2022, to 57 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release.  On January 14, 2022, Johnson-Chavis was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release.  On February 10, 2021, Stukes was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release.  All three defendants were ordered to pay criminal restitution.   

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The United States Postal Inspection Service, Atlanta Division, together with the Raleigh Police Department, Wake County Sheriff’s Office, and other local law enforcement partners, investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam F. Hulbig  prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-CR-136-BO.

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WILMINGTON, N.C. – United States Attorney Michael Easley announced that late Friday, Yomere Juan Busbee, 38, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was convicted in federal court following a three-day trial before Chief United States District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The jury found Busbee guilty on all five counts: conspiracy to commit kidnapping, kidnapping, including of a minor, conspiracy to distribute or possess with the intent to distribute heroin and cocaine base (crack), possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and felon in possession of a firearm. Busbee faces a sentence of no less than 20 years and up to life in prison at sentencing.

“This case is about the victims, including a toddler, who suffered at the hands of a violent pimp and drug dealer,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “My office will continue to investigate and prosecute those who are perpetrating violence in our communities.

According to evidence presented at trial, in December 2018, Busbee and two co-defendants, James Calvin McEachern, Jr. and Merianda Gray, held three adult victims, and a two-year-old child in a hotel room against their will for several hours after Busbee, a violent pimp and drug dealer, believed he was missing several hundred dollars and accused the victims of stealing it. During the incident Busbee, McEachern, a fellow drug dealer, and Gray threatened the victims and did not allow them to leave.  Several of the victims were physically and sexually assaulted and tased. Eventually, one of the victims was able to get a message to a family member who called authorities. Busbee fled when he learned authorities were on the way, and three of the victims were able to escape.  Officers with Fayetteville Police Department were able to retrieve the final victim from the room without incident.

Fayetteville Police Department detectives investigated the kidnapping, and eventually apprehended Busbee at a different Fayetteville hotel on January 17, 2019. A search of Busbee’s vehicle and the hotel room recovered large quantities of heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base (crack), as well as two firearms, one of which was stolen. Gray previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fayetteville Police Department.  Former Assistant United States Attorney Erin Blondel and Assistant United States Attorney Bryan Stephany handled the prosecution of this case for the government.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.5:2020cr00393.

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – A Smithfield man was convicted by a jury today for distributing a mixture and substance containing cyclopropyl fentanyl where death resulted. Shamel Nesbitt, 32, faces a minimum of 20 years in prison for this crime, and could receive a life sentence. Nesbitt’s sentencing is scheduled for November.

“The drug dealers and criminal networks lacing fentanyl into their supply are on notice.  We will bring charges and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.  When your criminal activity leads to death, you can face up to life in prison,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Nesbitt was investigated in November 2017 by the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office for the distribution of cyclopropyl fentanyl, a fentanyl analogue, where death resulted.  The investigation began on November 19, 2017, after Lucas Urbina, 20, was rushed to the hospital by several friends after using a controlled substance and overdosing.  A second friend of Urbina’s also suffered an overdose from using the same substance.  At that time, hospital staff were able to resuscitate both Urbina and his friend.  Urbina’s friend regained consciousness and became stable after a short period of time.  He left the hospital and was approached by law enforcement when he was attempting to get into a vehicle.  He was searched and law enforcement discovered he had a bag of suspected narcotics along with two syringes.

While Urbina was revived, he never regained consciousness.  Urbina died on November 22, 2017. 

Sample of Urbina’s blood taken upon admission to the hospital were sent to the toxicology section of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to see what substances were present.  Test results showed a lethal level of cyclopropyl fentanyl.  Urbina also had low levels of morphine and clonazepam in his blood.  Urbina’s death was ruled an accidental overdose. 

The bag of suspected narcotics that was found on Urbina’s friend immediately following the overdose was tested at the DEA Lab.  It was found to contain a mixture of heroin, cyclopropyl fentanyl, benzoyl fentanyl and caffeine. 

Law enforcement immediately began investigating to determine who distributed the narcotics to Urbina and his friends.  Text messages and dialed phone numbers showed Urbina was reaching out to someone listed as “Mista” in his phone.  Officers were able to quickly link the number to Shamel Nesbitt who had given it to law enforcement as his number when he was cited for a traffic violation a few months earlier.  Law enforcement officers were able to access Urbina’s Facebook account and saw he was communicating with another Facebook user with a name of “Chris Nesbitt.”  In the Facebook messages between Urbina and Nesbitt, it was clear Urbina was attempting to buy drugs from Nesbitt.  Officers got a search warrant for Nesbitt’s Facebook page.  They noticed pictures posted by “Chris Nesbitt” were of Shamel Nesbitt.  Multiple messages on Nesbitt’s Facebook page reference him by the nickname “Mista.” Law enforcement received a search warrant for Nesbitt’s home and found heroin packaging material, nitrile gloves and marijuana. 

Nesbitt made statements to law enforcement that he saw Urbina that day but didn’t sell him any narcotics.    

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the trial was concluded.  U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle presided over the trial.  The Smithfield Police Department and the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson and Brandon Boykin prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:19-cr-00226-BO.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Reshod Jamar Everett, 36, of Cumberland County, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for leading a drug trafficking operation out of an in-home daycare and other locations in Fayetteville. A jury returned a verdict on May 10, 2022 finding Everett guilty of six felony drug trafficking and firearms related charges.

“Despite Everett’s best efforts to undermine the public trust in our local law enforcement partners, investigators were able to build a comprehensive case demonstrating that he was responsible for distributing vast quantities of illegal drugs in the Fayetteville area,” said Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina. “The fact that he stored drugs, cash, and loaded, high-powered AR rifles at an in-home daycare further underscores the danger that Everett presented to the community at large.”

"For years, Reshod Everett used the compassion of our community to deflect from his criminal activity in order to garner mistrust of the police department,” said Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins.  “We are pleased with our continued federal partnership and another drug peddler is out of our community." 

“The threat this individual posed to the community cannot be overstated,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “Large quantities of drugs and multiple firearms – many of which were loaded and ready to fire – were recovered within a business that served parents and children. This was a tragedy waiting to happen, and because of the work from the Fayetteville Police Department, ATF, and the U.S. Attorney’s office, we’ve prevented that tragedy and ended this individual’s criminal career.”

In 2018, investigators with the Fayetteville Police Department determined that Everett was distributing large amounts of controlled substances, including from an apartment in Fayetteville. On July 16, 2018, agents conducted a traffic stop of a Cadillac driven by co-defendant Alvin Milton Davis as it left the apartment complex. In the vehicle, agents found marijuana, cocaine, and a loaded handgun with an extended magazine.

The same day, agents obtained a search warrant for the apartment and seized more than 36 pounds of marijuana, more than 300 grams of cocaine, and a loaded CZ Scorpion firearm. The apartment was leased by Reshod Everett, with Alvin Davis listed as an authorized occupant.

Investigators then determined that Everett’s primary residence was on Ronald Reagan Drive in Fayetteville, and that he and his wife operated an in-home daycare in the residence.  On July 17, 2018, agents obtained a search warrant for the house and seized more than $65,000, eight firearms, ammunition, and THC edibles. In a detached shed, agents seized THC wax, tramadol, and drug packaging materials.

Several of the firearms found inside the residence were loaded, high-powered rifles. One loaded rifle had the selector switch set to “fire,” and, as such, only a small amount of pressure on the trigger would have caused gun to fire.

Investigators then identified a storage unit used by Everett. A search warrant was issued for the storage unit, and on July 18, 2018, it was found to contain more than 65 pounds of marijuana.

Witness testimony established that Everett was responsible for more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than 1,700 kilograms of marijuana.

Evidence introduced at trial also showed that Everett attempted to engage in a variety of tactics to obstruct prosecutors and investigators.  These tactics included giving false testimony under oath, attempting to bribe or threaten others to give false testimony, utilizing gang members to intimidate witnesses, and engaging in an extensive social media campaign to falsely accuse the Fayetteville Police Department and Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office of wrongdoing.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Operation Cali Verde. OCDETF investigations identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Court Judge James C. Dever III. The Fayetteville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case, and the Internal Revenue Service assisted at trial. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Lemmon and Caroline Webb prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number 5:20-CR-00333-D-1.

 FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – United States Attorney Michael Easley, along with representatives from the Fayetteville Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) will hold a press conference on Friday, August 26 to announce the sentence of Reshod Everett, a convicted armed drug trafficker who ran his operation out of his home, which he also operated as a daycare center.

WHERE: Council Chambers in City Hall - 433 Hay Street, Fayetteville

WHEN: TOMORROW (FRIDAY) at 11:00 a.m.

Media, please arrive at by 10:30 a.m. for set up.

Credentialed members of the media are invited to attend. For additional information, please e-mail Don Connelly at usance.PublicInfoOfficer@usdoj.gov.  Please RSVP your intentions to attend the event.

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RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal jury convicted Jarred Javon Ford of Florida for illegally possessing a gun in an incident where he shot a Nash County Sheriff’s Deputy several times following a traffic stop. Ford is also facing state charges of attempted first-degree murder, assault on a law enforcement officer and other drug and traffic-related charges in state court arising from the incident.

“We stand by and support the law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “This defendant was a prior felon illegally carrying a gun, with an extended magazine, that was used to fire at two Nash County deputies. Now, he is facing time in federal prison.”

“Brazen attacks on those dedicated to public safety should never be tolerated,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “We’ve worked collectively to bring a very dangerous individual to justice.”

“I would like to express my deep gratitude to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina for being prompt in bringing this case into court,” said Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone. “Violent crime is trending upwards across America, and Jarred Ford's actions are an example of the destructive behavior that erodes away the safety of our citizens. Crime against law enforcement is increasing day by day, and this makes a difficult job all the more difficult but also even more important. In this case, the situation could have been far worse if not for the training and discipline of these deputies who bravely put themselves in harm's way to keep our citizens safe. As a law enforcement leader, I am proud to have these heroes, Deputy William Tony and Deputy Shelby Smith, safeguarding my family and friends. They are a brilliant representation of the Nash County Sheriff's Office.”

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Ford was pulled over in February 2021 for speeding on I-95 by a Nash County Sheriff’s Deputy. During the traffic stop, a struggle ensued, and Ford, using a Taurus 9 mm pistol, fired several rounds. One of the deputies assisting with the traffic stop was hit multiple times by the gunfire. Ford was ultimately subdued, and the gun was seized by officers on the scene.

Ford faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced later this year.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle accepted the verdict. The Nash County Sheriff’s Office, the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aakash Singh prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-CR-00105-BO.

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RALEIGH, N.C. – A Havelock  man was sentenced to 180 months in prison for trafficking fentanyl and heroin from June 2017, through July 10, 2019.  On March 29, 2021, Michael Lamar Hill pled guilty to the charges.

According to Chief Chris Morning of the Havelock Police Department, this sentence represents “one small victory for the citizens of Havelock and surrounding counties.  The war on drugs may never be won, but with strong partnerships between local, state and federal agencies, we can make a difference in our community, one conviction at a time.”

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Hill, who was convicted of federal drug trafficking and a gun crime in 2012, was released from federal prison in April 2017, to begin a five-year term of supervised release.  Once back in the community, Hill quickly began trafficking in fentanyl and heroin and also opened a business named Havelock Super Tire Store.  Hill used drug proceeds as the seed capital to fund the opening of his business.  Hill also used his supply of fentanyl as a means of securing an inventory of new tires.  Specifically, Hill made it known that he would pay one gram of fentanyl for each pair of new tires, which his drug customers would then steal from local businesses.  Hill also used Havelock Super Tire Store to store and distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.  Hill assigned a store employee to assist in the drug distribution. 

In 2018 and 2019, Havelock Police Department conducted numerous controlled purchases of fentanyl from Hill, both directly and through his employee.  On July 10, 2019, Havelock Police Department and the DEA conducted a search of Havelock Super Tire Store and recovered 161 grams of fentanyl and 267 grams of cocaine.  A search of Hill’s car resulted in the seizure of $10,000 in cash, a Rolex watch, and the vehicle titles having an aggregate worth in excess of $85,000.  Judge Boyle sentenced Hill to 144 months on the new criminal conduct and 36 months’ imprisonment for the violation of supervised release, to be served consecutive to each other for a total sentence of 180 months. 

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Havelock Police Department, Carteret County Sheriff’s Department, the DEA Wilmington Resident Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dennis M. Duffy and Lucy Brown prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-CR-00018-BO.

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NEW BERN, N.C. – A Rocky Mount man was sentenced today to 335 months in prison for leading a conspiracy to sell cocaine, crack, and other controlled substances. Terrence Brandon Mabry, 32, pled guilty on January 23, 2020.

“I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina for their diligent work in assisting Nash County Sheriff’s Office in the quick prosecution of major drug traffickers and violent offenders that bring our communities down,” said Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone. “The collaboration between law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s office is a partnership that keeps our communities safe.”

“The Rocky Mount Police Department appreciates our partnership with our federal and local partners,” said Rocky Mount Police Chief Robert Hassell. “RMPD will remain vigilant in our efforts to reduce crime and continue working with our partners to identify, investigate, charge, and prosecute anyone participating in drugs, gangs, guns, and other crimes of violence.”

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Mabry ran a drug distribution operation out of a house located at 120 Lisa Court in Rocky Mount.  Law enforcement officers conducted over a dozen undercover purchases of controlled substances from Mabry and his co-conspirators between November 2015 and April of 2018.  On April 25, 2018, investigators executed a search warrant at Mabry’s house and seized cocaine, cash, a stolen .40 caliber Glock, and assorted ammunition.  During the course of the investigation, Mabry was also identified as a high-ranking member of the “G-Shine” set of the United Blood Nation gang.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Rocky Mount Police Department, and Nash County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Webb prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:18-CR-485-FL-1.

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WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Bayboro man was sentenced yesterday to 70 months in prison for distributing more than 28 grams of crack on multiple occasions.  On May 17, 2022, George Henry Midgette, also known as “Jersey George,” pleaded guilty to the charges.

Midgette, 62, was first identified as a Pamlico County drug dealer in 2017. Law enforcement went on to execute a series of drug buys from Midgette at different locations throughout Pamlico County. The investigation culminated in Midgette’s arrest by the Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office on September 20, 2021.  Midgette also had previous convictions for drug crimes in North Carolina, Maryland, and New York.

This investigation is part of operation “Last Call” which is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. Operation Last Call targeted individuals engaged in the distribution of controlled substances throughout Pamlico County and surrounding areas. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Michael F. Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, United States Drug Enforcement Administration, and Department of Homeland Security investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Lemons  prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:21-cr-00072-M-1.

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WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Wilmington man was sentenced today to 74 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (crack) and being a felon in possession of a firearm. On March 30, 2022, Rasul Gatford, age 31, pled guilty to the charges.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, in October of 2021, members of the Wilmington Police Department Vice and Narcotics Unit began an investigation into Gatford after receiving information concerning his drug trafficking activities. On October 28, 2021, Gatford was arrested by the Wilmington Police Department for distributing crack cocaine and, during his arrest, officers located a quantity of crack cocaine on Gatford’s person. A search warrant of Gatford’s home also revealed an additional quantity of crack cocaine, marijuana, drug manufacturing equipment, and a firearm.

At the time of this offense, Gatford was on Federal Supervised Release for a 2013 conviction for Using, Carrying, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime and Aiding and Abetting (7:13-CR-10-1BO).

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle.  The FBI’s Coastal Carolina Safe Street’s Gang Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Wilmington Police Department investigated the case and Special Assistant United States Attorney William Van Trigt prosecuted the cases.  Mr. Van Trigt is a prosecutor with the New Hanover County District Attorney’s Office.  District Attorney Ben David has assigned him to the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal violent crimes and other criminal matters.  This has been made possible by a grant funded by New Hanover County.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:21-cr-00140-BO.

RALEIGH, N.C. – The United States Attorney announced that today in federal court, Levi Isidoro Velasco-Hernandez, age 40, born in Mexico and residing in Johnston County, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle to six months in prison following a guilty plea to visa fraud.  Moreover, Velasco was judicially ordered to be removed from the U.S. following the sentence he is currently serving in prison for violations of state law.

According to court records, on February 3, 2017, Velasco fraudulently applied for and subsequently obtained an immigrant visa by making materially false statements under oath.  During the application process, Velasco claimed that he had never engaged in any kind of sexual contact with any person who was being forced or threatened.  This was not true because he had in fact taken indecent liberties with an 11-year-old child.    At the time Velasco sought the visa, immigration officials were unaware of his crimes because he had not yet been arrested or charged with them.

However, on March 4, 2021, in the Superior Court of North Carolina in Johnston County, Velasco was convicted of ten counts of indecent liberties with a child.  He was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of between 10 and 20 years and ordered to register as a sex offender.  According to the indictments to which he pled guilty, Velasco committed the crimes as early as January 1, 2017, which clearly preceded his visa application and thus displayed the falsity of his statements. 

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sebastian Kielmanovich and Lori Warlick prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-00016-1BO(1). 

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WILMINGTON, N.C. – A former Ft. Bragg substance abuse counselor was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison and 5 years of supervised release, for sexual contact without consent.  Harrell Lenear Jamison will also have to register as a sex offender.  On April 8, 2022, Jamison pled guilty to the charge pursuant to a plea agreement.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Jamison, 48, was a substance abuse counselor for the Substance Use Disorder Clinical Care (SUDCC) program at Ft. Bragg.  During a session with a patient, Jamison undid the pants of his 20-year-old victim, put his hands inside her underwear, and rubbed her groin area.  When the victim asked him to stop, he said, “be quiet, you’re fine.”  After attempting to drive away from the appointment, the victim pulled over and was found crying on the side of the road. 

Michael F. Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. US Army CID investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad DeVoe prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-CR-404.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Jimmy McKoy Rouse, 26, of Sampson County, was sentenced last week to 50 years in federal prison for running an armed drug trafficking operation from multiple locations throughout Sampson County. Rouse was convicted on January 7, 2022 of nine felony drug trafficking and firearms related charges.

“This defendant’s fervent commitment to using extreme violence to protect an extensive drug trafficking network endangered many communities in Eastern North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Local and federal investigative agencies worked collaboratively and patiently to build a case that the jury found compelling and ultimately led to Rouse’s conviction and a fifty-year prison sentence.”

At sentencing, Judge James C. Dever, III noted Rouse’s persistent commitment to a life of serious crime, making the observation that whenever Rouse was shown leniency in the form of a reduced sentence or dismissed charge in the past, such favor served only to embolden Rouse, rather than an impetus to live within the law. In delivering the half-century sentence, the Judge noted the dire need to protect the public from Rouse’s serious crimes.

“ATF and our law enforcement partners continue to seek out those that pose the biggest threat to our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “This joint effort puts an end to a long and violent criminal career.”

“The reign of terror by Jimmy Rouse has come to an end with a 50-year prison sentence,” said Sheriff Jimmy Thornton. “I cannot thank the ATF and the US Attorney’s Office enough for working hand-in-hand with my Special Investigations Division on the arrest and conviction of this violent criminal.  These agents and prosecutors put in an untold number of hours conducting surveillance, controlled buys of illegal drugs, interviews, and case preparation to ensure a solid conviction.”

Evidence from an investigation commencing in 2016 and presented in court established that Rouse was a large-scale drug dealer who trafficked kilogram quantities of methamphetamine, along with significant quantities of heroin, assorted pills, cocaine and cocaine base (crack). Rouse’s methamphetamine operation took off after connecting with suppliers who received hundreds of kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. The court held Rouse accountable more than nine kilograms of methamphetamine, noting that was a conservative estimate.

Gun seizures related to the case include and AK-47, extended magazines and accompanying rounds of ammunition.

At the January trial, Rouse was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and a quantity of heroin, three counts of distributing methamphetamine, three counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of distributing heroin, and one count of possessing a firearm after receiving a felony conviction.

So far, 12 additional co-conspirators have also been federally prosecuted in cases related to the Rouse investigation. Collectively, these criminals will spend 150 years in prison.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Court Judge James C. Dever III. The Sampson County Sherriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case, and the Drug Enforcement Administration assisted at trial. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Knott prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number 7:19-CR-00194-D-1.

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WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Tarboro man was sentenced today to 90 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On April 21, 2022, Marquavis Keyon Jones pled guilty to the charge.

According to court documents, on October 22, 2020, officers with the Rocky Mount Police Department encountered Jones at his residence while investigating a robbery. Jones appeared at the door with a firearm loaded with a high-capacity magazine around his neck. Upon entering, officers directed Jones to show his hands and set down the firearm. Jones eventually placed it against a door frame and while investigators were securing the weapon and speaking with other occupants, Jones fled on foot. Warrants were obtained and served on December 5, 2020, following a high-speed chase when Jones fled from a routine traffic stop in Enfield, NC.

In addition to the October 2020 incident, evidence presented at sentencing established that, on May 21, 2021, officers again responded to Jones’ residence for a shots-fired call. Multiple witnesses indicated that Jones retrieved an AR-style rifle from his house and fired numerous shots hitting nearby vehicles and residences. Based on witness accounts and evidence recovered from the scene, investigators were able to identify Jones as the shooter, and recovered the rifle from under a nearby abandoned trailer where a vehicle associated with Jones was parked. A subsequent search warrant at the residence recovered another firearm, several personal effects of Jones in the residence, live rounds of ammunition, including several that matched the shell casings outside the residence and which ballistics confirmed were fired from the rifle recovered from the abandoned trailer.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Rocky Mount Police Department investigated the case. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney John Parris and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Stephany prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-CR-00372-M.

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CLINTON, N.C. – United States Attorney Michael Easley, along with representatives from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office will hold a press conference on Monday, Aug. 15 to announce the sentencing of Jimmy McKoy Rouse, a convicted Bloods gang member and large-scale drug trafficker.

WHERE: Sampson County Sheriff’s Office – 112 Fontana Street, Clinton

WHEN: Monday, August15 at 11:00 a.m.

Media, please arrive at by 10:30 a.m. for set up.

Credentialed members of the media are invited to attend. For additional information, please e-mail Don Connelly at usance.PublicInfoOfficer@usdoj.gov.  Please RSVP your intentions to attend the event.

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RALEIGH, N.C. – A New Jersey woman who was caught transporting more than a kilogram of a heroin-fentanyl mixture was sentenced today to 90 months in prison for her role in a drug conspiracy. On April 7, 2022, Bridgett Renettier Burrows, 53, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of a mixture containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.

According to court documents, the investigation identified Burrows as a drug courier routinely used by a source of supply from New Jersey. Burrows transported heroin from New Jersey to Wilmington, NC and Henderson, NC on multiple occasions between 2019 and 2020. On September 26, 2020, investigators learned that Burrows was traveling south from New Jersey on I-95 and I-85. Surveillance was established and Burrows was observed committing a traffic violation. During the traffic stop in Warren County, NC, Burrows, who was accompanied by a minor child, acted nervously, and a K-9 sniff of the vehicle indicated positive for narcotics. The resulting search of the vehicle recovered 1.02 kilograms of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, the Nash County Sheriff’s Office, and the Henderson Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Newby and Bryan Stephany prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-CR-00326-D.

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NEW BERN, N.C. – This past Friday, a federal jury convicted 43-year-old Barbara Oppong of Bronx, New York on charges of naturalization fraud, conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and theft of government property. 

Evidence presented at trial revealed that in February of 2019, a tipster alerted Fort Bragg U.S. Army CID (Criminal Investigation Division) that Samuel Agyapong, a U.S. citizen and soldier, was engaged in a sham marriage with Barbara Oppong, a citizen of Ghana who was unlawfully present in the United States.  Agyapong agreed to engage in the sham marriage in exchange for and upfront $10,000.00 in cash and the benefit of additional Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) funds he would receive from the Army for having a dependent spouse.  Oppong would obtain a lawful permanent resident card, commonly known as a green card. Agyapong and Oppong were married in New York in January 2015.

Thereafter, Agyapong and Oppong submitted fraudulent applications to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requesting Oppong’s adjustment of status as a lawful permanent resident in the United States, which she received. Based on the marriage to Agyapong, Oppong then filed an application for U.S. citizenship.    Over the course of this sham marriage, roughly $110,000 of undeserved BAH was paid out by the U.S. Army.

Additional evidence presented at the trial showed that Oppong resided in New York, and Agyapong purchased a residence in Fayetteville, and they seldom, if ever, travelled to see each other nor had they engaged in an actual marital union.  Further, evidence revealed that around the time Oppong and Agyapong were married and filed the applications, they omitted the fact that Oppong had two children with another man.

Agyapong was separately tried at a prior trial in which he was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison and restitution of more than $110,000.  As a result of this past Friday’s conviction, Oppong faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison at her own sentencing hearing scheduled for the November 15th term of court.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan accepted the verdict. The Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF) in the Eastern District of North Carolina led by Homeland Security Investigations and assisted by the Diplomatic Security Service and U.S. Army CID investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel J. Diaz is prosecuting the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:19-CR-00423-FL-6

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WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Sumter, South Carolina man was sentenced today to 77 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  On April 21, 2022, Derrick Lee Daye pled guilty to the charges.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Derrick Lee Daye, 35, was arrested on June 21, 2021 after officers with the Dunn Police Department found him with a backpack containing over $18,000 in cash, a loaded gun, and 90 grams of compressed cocaine. Daye, a member of the Bloods street gang, had five prior felony convictions before this arrest.

“I would like to thank U.S. Attorney Michael Easley and his team for their cooperation and hard work in assisting law enforcement officers in a successful prosecution and removal of a dangerous habitual felon from the community,” said Dunn Police Chief Clark White. “This is a perfect example of how local and federal agencies working together can achieve great results.”

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Dunn Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caroline Webb and Nicholas Hartigan prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-CR-335.

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ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – Adrian Lamont Dixon of Aurora was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment for Possession and Carrying a Firearm in relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime.  On February 16, 2022 Dixon pled guilty to the charge. 

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Dixon was investigated in July 2020 by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office after receiving information Dixon was distributing cocaine and heroin.  Information from two confidential sources of information led investigators to believe Dixon was trafficking in narcotics and carrying a firearm during his drug dealing. 

During August and September 2020 investigators conducted surveillance at a residence in Aurora believed to be a stash house for Dixon’s narcotics.  Investigators saw Dixon traveling to the residence on multiple occasions.  The residence did not seem to be otherwise in use. 

On October 22, 2020, investigators saw Dixon and a female arrive at the residence in Aurora.  Dixon retrieved an item from another vehicle and then drove away.  Investigators conducted a traffic stop because Dixon did not have a valid North Carolina driver’s license.  Dixon consented to a search of his person and investigators found a large amount of cash.  In addition, investigators found several thousands of dollars folded in $1,000 increments in the driver’s side door.

Investigators obtained a search warrant for the residence in Aurora.  Dixon told law enforcement they would find heroin in the home.  When investigators searched the home, they found a stolen firearm, approximately 20 grams of cocaine and 28 grams of heroin. 

Dixon had been previously convicted of possessing and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and had been released from federal prison in November 2019. 

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle.  The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charity Wilson and Timothy Severo prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:21-cr-00008-BO.

WILMINGTON, N.C. – Eric Werner Johansson, 59, a Morrisville resident was sentenced today to 150 months in prison and 20 years of supervised release for sharing child pornography on dark web chat rooms.  On March 8, 2022, the defendant pled guilty to transportation and possession of child pornography.     

According to court documents and other information presented in court, agents with the Department of Homeland Security discovered a chat room on the dark web dedicated to child pornography.  Using an explicit username, Johansson was observed in the chat room uploading links that connected to images of child pornography.  In addition, Johansson was discussing his sexual arousal of such materials and fantasizing about sexually abusing children. 

The investigation revealed that Homeland Security agents as well as Wake County Sheriff’s Office deputies and the State Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant at Johansson’s residence on November 4, 2020.  He admitted to viewing child sexual abuse material for a period of ten years.  He admitted he had posted links to child pornography and had discussed his fantasies about sexually abusing children.  Johansson further admitted being sexually aroused by child pornography.

A forensic examination of his digital devices revealed over 1,400 images and 30 videos of child sexual abuse material.  These images and files included depictions of infants and toddlers being sexually abused and sadistic and masochistic conduct.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing hearing was concluded.  Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II presided over the case.  The Department of Homeland Security, Wake County Sheriff’s Office and the State Bureau of Investigation investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson  prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-cr-00389-M-1.

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NEW BERN, N.C. – A Leland man was sentenced today to 300 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, forty grams or more of fentanyl, and a quantity of cocaine, and five counts of distributing heroin and fentanyl.  On February 17, 2022, a federal jury found Benne Lee James guilty of all charges.

“Working together with law enforcement, we are working to investigate and prosecute those that are bringing illegal drugs into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “This defendant will trade his time dealing drugs for time behind bars.”

According to court documents and other information presented in court, James, 44, sold heroin laced with fentanyl in the Leland area of Brunswick County on at least five occasions from May to August 2018.  During the course of the investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) learned that James had trafficked more than sixteen kilograms of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl from New York in or around November 2016, through August 2018.  James and his co-defendant, Alexander Mootoo, had a source of supply in New York to buy bulk amounts of heroin and fentanyl, and then used a courier to bring the drugs on commercial buses to eastern North Carolina.  Once the drugs arrived, James used several properties to store the drugs until it was packaged for sale in the Brunswick and New Hanover County areas.  James maintained a network of at least 11 individuals who sold heroin for him, many selling for him on a weekly basis.  James also trafficked and sold cocaine on occasion.  He has a lengthy criminal history dating back to the mid-1990’s, including common law robbery, possession with intent to sell or deliver heroin, and possession of marijuana.

On March 29, 2022, Mootoo was sentenced to 38 months imprisonment for his role in the offense. 

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. This investigation was led by the Wilmington Safe Streets Task Force which includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), the Wilmington Police Department and the Brunswick Count Sheriff’s Office, and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Dodson prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:20-CR-79-1FL.

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WILMINGTON, N.C. – Terrance Fred Tracy, Jr, 36, of Wilmington was sentenced today to 113 months in prison for trafficking methamphetamine and possessing a firearm as a felon. On March 8, 2022, he pled guilty to the charges.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Tracy was the target of an investigation that began in June of 2020. On September 24, 2020, Tracy was arrested at the Best Western Hotel in Wilmington on an outstanding warrant for arrest for a probation violation. During the arrest, officers located a 9mm handgun with a high-capacity magazine in Tracy’s waistband. Officers then conducted a search warrant of the hotel room where Tracy was staying and located methamphetamine, ammunition, a digital scale, and other drug paraphernalia.

The investigation revealed that between June 9, 2020, and September 24, 2020, Tracy was responsible for distributing more than 600 grams of methamphetamine and possessing three firearms, one of which had an extended magazine.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II.  The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Wilmington Police Department investigated the cases and Special Assistant United States Attorney William Van Trigt prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. 

 Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:21-cr-00141-M.

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WILMINGTON, N.C. – Demetrice “Peanut” Parker, 47, of Waycross Georgia, was sentenced to 207 months in prison for illegal possession of a gun and his part in a drug trafficking conspiracy that was responsible for the distribution of more than 37 kilograms of methamphetamine and 300 grams of heroin from Georgia to the Eastern District of North Carolina between 2018 and 2021. Parker had previously been convicted on federal drug trafficking charges in Georgia.  

“This case is part of our ongoing efforts to dismantle the drug trafficking organizations bringing opioids and other illegal drugs into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Easley. “We will continue to investigate and prosecute the responsible individuals to ensure that they are behind bars and off our streets.”

According to court documents, evidence presented in court and other documents, on March 19, 2019, a Fayetteville police officer stopped a car for a traffic violation.  Parker was seated in the back seat.  During the traffic stop, the officer found a bag in the back seat which contained 200 grams of heroin, more than 100 grams of methamphetamine and 60 grams of cocaine and crack cocaine and a loaded stolen 9mm handgun. 

On October 22, 2019, Duplin County detectives made a controlled purchase of 171 grams of methamphetamine from Parker.  During the investigation it was determined that Parker was a source of supply for Jeremy Cline in Duplin County.  Cline received a 288-month federal prison sentence for his role in this conspiracy.

On October 29, 2019, the DEA received information that Parker was transporting drugs from Atlanta, Georgia to Eastern North Carolina.  Parker was stopped in Lumberton by the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, and a drug K-9 alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from the car. Deputies searched the car and found 1.2 kilograms of methamphetamine, 41 grams of cocaine, 139 grams of heroin and a loaded .38 caliber handgun.  

On March 8, 2022, Parker pled guilty to the following charges: (1) Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 500 grams or more of a substance containing Methamphetamine (2) Possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a substance containing methamphetamine, a quantity of cocaine and 100 grams or more of heroin and (3) Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.

This is part of operation “Fighting JellyFish” which is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security, United States Postal Service, the Craven, Onslow, Robeson and Sampson County Sheriffs’ Offices and the Fayetteville, New Bern, Kinston and Wallace Police Departments investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo  prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:20-cr-00074-M.

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RALEIGH, N.C. – A Rocky Mount man was sentenced to 349 months in prison for multiple armed robberies in July 2019 across Wilson, Nash, Edgecombe, Pitt, Halifax, and Greene Counties. On December 22, 2021, Jequayves Demondre Britt pled guilty to the charges.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Britt, 21, committed a series of armed commercial robberies between July 12 and July 21, 2019, with his co-defendant and getaway driver, Jacob Austin Evans. 

On July 12, 2019, Britt robbed the Kangaroo Express on Sunset Avenue in Rocky Mount with a gun. Britt also robbed a customer at gunpoint. That same evening, Britt robbed the Fuel Doc convenience store on Cokey Road in Rocky Mount. During the robbery, Britt brandished a firearm and stole an undetermined amount of cash from the register before fleeing the scene. Cell phone records revealed Evans was present at both businesses during the times of the robberies. The robberies were captured on video surveillance footage from inside the businesses.

On July 14, 2019, Britt and Evans attempted to rob the S&J Mart located in Wilson. During the robbery, Britt brandished a firearm and demanded money, but the clerk refused to comply with Britt’s demands. Britt fled on foot. Evans was captured on video surveillance footage from inside the business ten minutes prior to Britt’s arrival. That same evening, Britt robbed the City Gas and Convenience store on Forest Hills Road in Wilson. Video footage from inside the store shows Britt brandishing a firearm before stealing more than $1,000 in cash. After this robbery, Britt robbed the Speedway gas station on North Wesleyan Boulevard in Rocky Mount. Video footage shows Britt wearing the same clothes as the two Wilson robberies from earlier that evening.

On July 16, 2019, Britt robbed the New Dixie Mart located on West 5th Street in Roanoke Rapids. During the robbery, Britt brandished a firearm and stole more than $600 from the business. Video surveillance footage captured Britt committing the robbery. Later that evening, Britt robbed the Kangaroo Express on Sunset Avenue in Rocky Mount. Britt carried a firearm during the robbery and threatened to shoot one of the customers if the clerk did not turn over the money. Ultimately, Britt stole $49 from the business. Video surveillance footage captured the events of the robbery. Cell phone records revealed Evans was present at the business around the time of the robbery.

On July 18, 2019, Britt robbed the Dollar General on South Hathaway Boulevard in Sharpsburg. During the robbery, Britt brandished a firearm and stole more than $1,000 in business proceeds. Video surveillance footage from inside the business captured the events of the robbery. That same evening, Britt robbed the Dollar General on East Hamlet Street in Pinetops. During the robbery, Britt pointed his firearm at the two store clerks and stole more than $2,300 in proceeds. Video surveillance footage showed Britt wearing the same clothes as the robbery in Sharpsburg. Cell phone records revealed Evans was present at the business at the time of the robbery.

On July 21, 2019, Britt attempted to rob the Circle K on South Memorial Drive in Greenville. Witnesses observed Britt carrying a firearm as he attempted to gain entry to the Circle K. However, the business had just closed so Britt was unable to get through the locked doors and subsequently fled the area. Later that evening, Britt and Evans robbed the Sheetz gas station on Portertown Road in Greenville. Surveillance video footage shows Evans entering the store as a lookout prior to the robbery. During the robbery, Britt pointed a firearm at the clerk and demanded money from the register. Britt stole $500 in proceeds before fleeing. Cell phone records also revealed Evans was present at the business at the time of the robbery.

That same evening, Britt robbed the Speedway gas station on US Highway 258 in Snow Hill. Britt brandished a firearm during the robbery and stole over $230 in proceeds from the business. As he fled from the store, Britt accidentally discharged his firearm and shot himself in the leg. Britt ultimately made it to Evans’ car and the pair fled the scene. Evans then transported Britt to the Wayne Memorial Hospital in Goldsboro for treatment of the gunshot wound. Britt was arrested on state charges on July 26, 2019.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), the Wilson County Sheriff’s office, the Wilson Police Department, the Rocky Mount Police Department, the Sharpsburg Police Department, the Roanoke Rapids Police Department, the Pinetops Police Department, the Greenville Police Department, and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney J.D. Koesters and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aakash Singh prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:20-CR-22-D.

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RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a Henderson man with possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.

According to the indictment and other information presented in a criminal complaint, Tyren Omarious Hargrove, 21, sold heroin laced with fentanyl to a confidential informant working with the Henderson Police Department in May 2022.  On June 3, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence associated with Hargrove and found more than 4,000 dosage units of heroin laced with fentanyl and almost $60,000 in U.S. currency.  Hargrove, who was on post-release supervision by the state of North Carolina at the time of the offense, was arrested on various state charges but quickly bonded out of state custody.  He later failed to appear for court in Vance County Superior Court.  On June 22, 2022, Hargrove was located by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol during a traffic stop.  Hargrove initially yielded to the traffic stop but then fled, leading troopers and deputies from the Vance County Sheriff’s Office and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office on a chase reaching speeds of approximately 115 mph.  After a tire deflation device was deployed, Hargrove’s car was disabled, and he attempted to flee on foot. After a short foot chase, Hargrove was apprehended. 

If convicted, Hargrove faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.  

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Henderson Police Department, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Vance County Sheriff’s Office, Warren County Sheriff’s Office, and the District Attorney’s Office for the 11th Prosecutorial District are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Dodson is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – Cortha Matthew McNair, 44, of Plymouth was sentenced today to 132 months in prison for dealing crack cocaine and robbing a gas station in 2020.  McNair pled guilty to distribution of cocaine base (crack) and interference with commerce by robbery on April 13, 2022.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, McNair sold crack cocaine to a confidential informant on four occasions between June 19 and July 22, 2020, in Plymouth. On July 23, 2020, state and local law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at McNair’s residence, where they recovered an additional 25 grams of crack cocaine, digital scales, and packaging materials.

On November 1, 2020, the Greenville Police Department responded to an armed robbery at the Oasis gas station, located at 2130 SE Greenville, Blvd. in Greenville. During the robbery McNair displayed a handgun and demanded money from the register and the back office. Surveillance footage from inside the store captured the robbery. McNair then fled the scene in a Honda sedan with a noticeable dent on the rear passenger door. Upon reviewing footage from the Greenville city street cameras, law enforcement tracked the vehicle to a nearby apartment complex. After observing McNair operating the Honda sedan, Greenville Police stopped the car and detained McNair. Officers searched the vehicle and recovered clothing that matched the suspect’s clothing from the robbery, a black face mask, and a loaded .9mm pistol.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the North Carolina Bureau of Alcohol Law Enforcement, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Plymouth Police Department, and Greenville Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aakash Singh  prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:21-CR-27-BO.

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WILMINGTON, N.C. – Jerrell Taylor, 36, of Kinston North Carolina, was sentenced to 180 months (15 years) in prison for trafficking methamphetamine. The investigation tied meth sales to Taylor through a pizza delivery box that listed his address. When Taylor began to believe he was under federal investigation, he left North Carolina for Las Vegas, Nevada. He was arrested there in April of 2020.

“Through our collaboration across federal, state and local law enforcement, we are taking dangerous and illegal drugs off the streets and putting dealers behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley.

Taylor pled guilty in July 2021, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 500 grams or more of a substance containing methamphetamine and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a substance containing methamphetamine.  

According to court documents, evidence presented in court and other documents, on July 24, 2019, Onslow County Sheriff’s Detectives arranged a controlled purchase of 449 grams of meth for $6500. A “middleman” arrived on a motorcycle carrying a pizza box which contained the meth.  The address listed on the pizza box was Taylor’s residence in Kinston.  Following the deal, the middleman met with Taylor.  Law enforcement observed the meeting and stopped both individuals.  Taylor was found in possession of money from the controlled purchase. 

The investigation revealed that from December 2018 until his arrest, Taylor was involved in the receipt and distribution of more than 18 kilograms of methamphetamine. Taylor was supplied methamphetamine from California including from people associated with the Grape Street Crips.  Taylor and others would have packages sent to addresses in Kinston and New Bern.  Taylor also had various people wire drug proceeds back to California. Among those involved in this conspiracy was Carlos Green. According to information received by law enforcement, Green received several packages of meth from the same source in California. Green was also involved in the distribution of heroin and cocaine in New Bern and Beaufort. Green was convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon and multiple drug trafficking charges in September of 2020. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison earlier this year.

This is part of operation “Fighting Jelly Fish” which is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security, United States Postal Service, the Craven and Onslow County Sheriffs’ Office and the New Bern and Kinston Police Departments investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo  prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:20-cr-00005.

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ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – Craig Wayne Simpson, 53, of Hertford County was sentenced to 150 months in prison and five years of supervised release for producing and trafficking meth. The sentencing judge noted several factors contributing to the sentence including the substantial risk to human life caused by the production of meth, Simpson’s possession of a loaded shotgun, and the fact that, during the sentencing hearing, the defendant admitted he had lied under oath during the trial.

 “The successful prosecution of this criminal enterprise is putting an armed drug dealer behind bars and taking dangerous meth off our streets,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Those involved in making and trafficking meth and other illegal narcotics will spend time in prison.”

Simpson was convicted by a federal jury on April 26, 2022 for the following charges:

• Conspiracy to distribute fifty grams or more of methamphetamine,
• Possession with the intent to distribute fifty grams or more of methamphetamine, and
• Possession of equipment, chemicals, products, and material with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Simpson, conspired with others to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine from 2013 to 2019. Evidence showed that Simpson directed other individuals to purchase pseudoephedrine so that Simpson could produce methamphetamine, while evading federal and state purchase limits.

In 2016, Simpson was stopped at a Hertford County checkpoint and law enforcement discovered a bag containing materials for making methamphetamine along with 170 grams of liquid methamphetamine. In 2019, Simpson’s property was searched, and powder methamphetamine and more liquid methamphetamine were seized. Law enforcement also recovered all the chemicals, materials, and tools for manufacturing methamphetamine as well as a loaded shotgun, which was positioned on a handrailing pointing towards the front door.  

This investigation is part of operation “Speed Bump” which is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. Operation Speed Bump targeted individuals engaged in the dangerous and hazardous production of methamphetamine in clandestine laboratories throughout Eastern North Carolina. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ahoskie Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler Lemons and Dennis Duffy prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.2:20-cr-00018-BO-1.

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WILMINGTON, N.C. – A South Carolina man was sentenced today to 240 months in prison for a shooting rampage targeting moving vehicles on I-95 in North Carolina.  Charges included possessing an unregistered short-barrel shotgun, transporting an unregistered firearm across state lines, and transporting a prohibited weapon without a license. Franklin Joseph Dangerfield, 35, pled guilty to all three charges.

“This defendant created terror on a major interstate by his reckless and criminal behavior of shooting at innocent people simply driving their car,” commented U.S. Attorney Michael Easley.  “I am grateful for the cooperation of many law enforcement agencies in bringing this crime spree to an end.  We will vigorously prosecute those who use gun violence to inflict trauma and fear in our community.”

According to court documents and other information presented in court, on September 5, 2020, Dangerfield drove from his home in Goose Creek, South Carolina, north along I-95 into North Carolina in a black pickup truck. As Dangerfield entered Robeson County, still driving north on I-95, he began shooting from his vehicle into other moving vehicles. Dangerfield fired at least three separate shots at a moving vehicle, striking the driver’s side window. No occupants were injured at this point.

Dangerfield continued travelling north through Nash County, where he began firing again at multiple moving vehicles along I-95. Dangerfield shot at ten (10) separate occupied vehicles while in Nash County, causing damage to nine (9) of them. During this spree, Dangerfield shot an elderly female victim in her shoulder. She was airlifted to Vidant Trauma Center in Greenville, North Carolina. Another victim in a separate vehicle sustained damage from glass fragments that entered their eyes, face, back and feet. This victim was taken to Vidant North Hospital in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina.

Deputies with the Nash County Sheriff’s Office, the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office, and the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office pursued Dangerfield in his pickup truck in a high-speed chase along I-95. During the chase, Dangerfield exceeded speeds of 110 miles per hour and drove in the middle of both lanes, forcing multiple vehicles off the road. The pursuit ended after 37 miles, when Dangerfield attempted to take an exit in Emporia, Virginia at a high rate of speed, and collided with an embankment before striking a guardrail and flipping over. Virginia State Police officers then secured Dangerfield into custody. At the time, Dangerfield was unresponsive. Law enforcement transported Dangerfield to Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center to treat his injuries. Bloodwork confirmed Dangerfield’s blood alcohol content was 0.265.

Inside Dangerfield’s truck, law enforcement recovered a Savage Arms Springfield 67H 12-gauge shotgun with a 13-inch barrel, eight (8) 12-gauge shotgun shells, and nine (9) spent 12-gauge shotgun shells.

On September 9, 2020, Special Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) arrested Dangerfield on a criminal complaint. On September 23, 2020, a federal grand jury charged Dangerfield in a three-count Indictment, charging him with Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, Transport of an Unregistered Firearm, and Transport of a Prohibited Weapon without a License.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Nash County Sheriff’s Office, Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, Northampton County Sheriff’s Office, and Robeson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aakash Singh prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-CR-439-M.