Eastern District of North Carolina
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Twenty-Five Indicted Federally in and Around Sampson County for Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announces a 49-count criminal indictment for Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Continuing Criminal Enterprise, Money Laundering, and Firearm offenses arising out of a Title III wiretap investigation in Sampson County. The following defendants were indicted:
- Antonio Kevin McKoy, 30, of Garland, NC
- James Daniel McKoy, 51, of Garland, NC
- Bryant Douglas Carr, 37, of Roseboro, NC
- Andrekia Jolanda Parker, 23, of Garland, NC
- Anthony Lee Barnes, Jr., 30, of Turkey, NC
- Tony Chevallier, 30, of Turkey, NC
- Jafa McKoy, 37, of Roseboro, NC
- Deames Frederick Henry, 36, of Garland, NC
- Earl Jeffrey Melvin, 38, of Roseboro, NC
- Darryl Clifton McKoy, 34, of Garland, NC
- Jabarr Ryeheine Rudolph, 37, of Clinton, NC
- Brandon O’Brian Smith, 31, of Elizabethtown, NC
- William Darrell Garner, 38, of Fayetteville, NC
- Craig Anthony Melvin, 25, of Raleigh, NC
- Braylynn Spencer, 24, Garland, NC
- Greg Bright, 31, of Turkey, NC
- Bryan Derrick Carr, 31, of Rose Hill, NC
- Ryan Eric Carr, 30, of Clinton, NC
- Donald Ray Garner, 43, of Clinton, NC
- Derrick Tyrone Ingram, 33, Roseboro, NC
- Derrell Eugene Wilson, 55, of Warsaw, NC
- David Fitzgerald Williams, 35, of Garland, NC
- Robert Antonio Parker, 30, of Clinton, NC
- Harry Thomas Oates, Jr., 48, of Dudley, NC
- Russell Condell Bell, Jr., 26, of Roseboro, NC
The indictment alleges that the defendants were part of a violent drug trafficking organization operating in and around Sampson County.
The charges and allegations contained in the Indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The case is a federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) criminal matter being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Jacksonville Police Department, Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Probation Office, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the North Carolina Departments of Revenue and Emergency Management.
Greenville Man Sentenced for Possession of Firearm by A FelonRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that in federal court on yesterday, United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced DAQUEZ HOWARD, 20, from Greenville, N.C., to 72 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. HOWARD pled guilty to the charge on July 18, 2016.
The offense occurred at approximately 12:52 a.m. on January 23, 2016, when a female was in her car in the parking lot of the Food Lion store at 250 Easy Street, Greenville, NC, and a dark colored Jeep pulled beside her. The victim saw four black males in the Jeep and that the two males in back had masks on their faces. One of the back passengers pointed a handgun at her. Fearing that she was about to be robbed, the victim drove away and called 911. Within minutes a Greenville Police Officer arrived at the scene and saw a dark colored Jeep occupied by four black males leaving the parking lot. The officer stopped the Jeep and found HOWARD to be a rear passenger. While the officer was walking HOWARD to his patrol vehicle, the officer heard an object hit the pavement. The officer retrieved a loaded FIE Titan .25 caliber pistol by HOWARD’S feet. While the officer was speaking over the phone with the victim, HOWARD spontaneously said that he wasn’t wearing a mask but that he was wearing a hoodie and bandana over his face because it was cold. HOWARD is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition due to his prior convictions for common law robbery, possession with the intent to sell and deliver cocaine and possession with the intent to sell and deliver marijuana.
The case was investigated by the Greenville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The federal prosecution was handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney Glenn Perry. Mr. Perry is a prosecutor with the Pitt County District Attorney’s Office. Pitt County District Attorney Kimberly Robb has assigned Mr. Perry to the United States Attorney’s Office, pursuant to funding provided by the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys, to prosecute federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force criminal matters.
Army Soldier Sentenced for Theft of Military PropertyRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that today in Federal court, Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever III sentenced CHRISTOPHER A. MANN, 33, of Hampton, Virginia to 20 months imprisonment and ordered him to pay $940,460 in restitution to the United States Army. On May 4, 2016, MANN pleaded guilty to a Criminal Information charging him with one count of theft of government property and aiding and abetting.
"The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (USACIDC) is pleased with today's sentencing," said Frank Robey, director of the Major Procurement Fraud Unit for USACIDC. "Our special agents go to great lengths to identify and help bring to justice those who think they can rip off the U.S. Government at will. We will continue to aggressively investigate these criminal acts with all assets at our disposal."
"Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Special Agent in Charge John F. Khin, Southeast Field Office, commented, "This former Non-Commissioned Officer assigned as a Supply Sergeant in an elite military unit stole essential supplies and equipment from his unit for personal profit, betraying his position of trust, the military code of conduct, and his fellow Soldiers. Corruption and theft on this large scale undermines the integrity of the Department of Defense, wastes precious American taxpayer dollars, and severely degrades the ability of our Warfighters to conduct combat missions."
“These former soldiers utilized their positions as public officials to steal supplies and equipment for their personal financial gain. Offenses such as these not only cost the Army precious resources, but also cost the taxpayer. The FBI will continue to work with its investigative partners to combat this corruption,” said John Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina.
According to the charges on file, the government’s factual proffer at the plea hearing, and other public information, MANN was a sergeant assigned to the United States Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg. During the offense period, MANN worked as a unit supply specialist in the 98th Civil Affairs Battalion, C Company, with responsibility for ordering military supplies and equipment that was the property of the United States Department of Defense. Between approximately October 2010 and March 2013, MANN systematically abused his position to coordinate the theft of bulk quantities of government property from Fort Bragg. The stolen property, valued at nearly $1 million, consisted of Meals-Ready-to-Eat or “MREs” and assorted military equipment, including weapon sights, knives, and sunglasses. As part of the scheme, MANN generated false and fraudulent requisition memoranda intended to make it appear as if his unit needed the property to train and carry out its mission. In fact, MANN would transport the stolen property off the base to black market purchasers in and around Fayetteville who would buy the items for cash.
Two of MANN’s co-conspirators, Joseph Horner and John McCaa, have entered guilty pleas in related cases and are awaiting sentencing in United States District Court. According to the charges on file, and the government’s factual proffers at their respective plea hearings, Horner was a civilian black market purchaser in Fayetteville to whom MANN routinely sold stolen MREs and other military property which was obtained through the theft scheme. McCaa was a civilian contractor for the Department of Defense who, at the time, was working for the Special Forces dining facility where he was responsible for processing MRE requests from MANN’s unit. In this capacity, McCaa facilitated the MRE theft scheme by authorizing the Army’s release of over 1,700 cases of MREs that he knew had been fraudulently requested by MANN. McCaa further arranged for MANN to sell a portion of the stolen MREs to McCaa’s contacts in black market transactions off base.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command, Major Procurement Fraud Unit, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Adam F. Hulbig prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Two Indicted for Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that a federal grand jury in Wilmington, North Carolina returned a five-count indictment charging JONES TYLER MARTIN and HAILEY TYKOSKI with conspiring to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and aiding and abetting.
The Indictment alleges that that from approximately 2013 to May, 2015, MARTIN created fake female identities on internet dating websites for the purpose of defrauding young enlisted male Marines into on-line relationships. TYKOSKI would use the fake female identities to communicate with some of the Marines by telephone and in person. The investigation further revealed that MARTIN and TYKOSKI, using these false identities, persuaded Marine victims to divulge personal identification and financial information, which the defendants subsequently used to their gain to fraudulently make wire transfers of money and to obtain credit in victims’ names.
Both defendants have been arrested. TYKOSKI was arrested in Michigan and has an initial appearance scheduled for November 29, 2016, in Wilmington, North Carolina. MARTIN was arrested in New Mexico and has an initial appearance scheduled for today in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 30 years imprisonment on each conspiracy and wire fraud count. They also face 2 years consecutive imprisonment on each aggravated identity theft count.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Field Office Carolinas, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
2016 Eastern District Election Officer AppointedRead the Press Release
RALEIGH - United States Attorney John Stuart Bruce announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) David A. Bragdon will lead the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 8, 2016, general elections. AUSA Bragdon has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Eastern District of North Carolina, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of any complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
United States Attorney Bruce said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud. The Department of Justice is dedicated to protecting the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on election day.
Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them. For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice.
The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise may exercise it if they choose to do so; and that those who seek to corrupt the voting process are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on November 8, 2016, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, United States Attorney Bruce stated that AUSA/DEO Bragdon will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: 919-856-4808.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The Raleigh FBI field office can be reached by the public at 919-380-4500.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington, DC by phone at 1-800-253-3931 or (202) 307-2767, by fax at (202) 307-3961, by email to [email protected] or by complaint form at http://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php.
Pasquotank County Drug Trafficker Found GuiltyRead the Press Release
ELIZABETH CITY – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that in federal court yesterday, a jury convicted DAVON KELLY BENNETT, 41, from Elizabeth City, N.C., of conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, 100 grams or more of heroin and marijuana; possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 100 grams or more of heroin and marijuana; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and money laundering by concealment. United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle presided over the three day trial and scheduled BENNETT’S sentencing hearing in January 2017.
On March 4, 2015, detectives with the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies executed a search warrant at BENNETT’S residence located at 1300 Brothers Lane, Elizabeth City, N.C. During the search, $81,047 was seized from BENNETT’S washing machine. Detectives found more than $10,000 in U.S. currency, three firearms, and titles to multiple motor vehicles registered in the names of nominee owners in BENNETT’S bedroom. Detectives located 92 grams of marijuana, a vacuum sealer, two sets of digital scales and two money counters in the house, and approximately 180 grams of marijuana in a shed on the property. Motor vehicles parked at the residence, including a Honda Odyssey, were searched the following day. Detectives recovered 3 kilograms of cocaine, 789 grams of heroin, $60,100 and a stolen .38 caliber revolver from a hidden compartment in the floor board of the Honda Odyssey.
Evidence presented at trial established that BENNETT had conspired to traffic narcotics since 2000 and had paid associates to register motor vehicles in their names to conceal his drug proceeds. BENNETT and his associates had been subjects of a long-term investigation conducted by several federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office, the Dare County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenville Regional Drug Task Force, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, the Nags Head Police Department, the Kill Devil Hills Police Department, the Kitty Hawk Police Department, the Elizabeth City Police Department, and North Carolina Wildlife Enforcement.
The federal prosecution was handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney Glenn Perry and Assistant United States Attorney Brad Knott. Mr. Perry is a prosecutor with the Pitt County District Attorney’s Office. Pitt County District Attorney Kimberly Robb has assigned Mr. Perry to the United States Attorney’s Office, pursuant to funding provided by the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys, to prosecute federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force criminal matters.
Roanoke Rapids Man Sentenced for Dog Fighting, Marijuana Grow & Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that in federal court yesterday, United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced three members of a Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina family relating to dog fighting, drug, and firearm conviction.
ELTON GARY, 47, was sentenced to 72 months imprisonment followed by 10 years of supervised released for the exhibit and sponsor of an animal for the purpose and participation in a fighting venture and aiding and abetting; attending an animal fighting venture and aiding and abetting in the same; possession of an animal for the purpose of participation in a fighting venture and aiding and abetting in the same; possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon; possession with intent to distribute more than 50 but less than 100 marijuana plants and aiding and abetting; and maintaining drug involved premises and aiding and abetting. His wife, ERICA POWELL GARY, 44, was sentenced to four months of imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release for felony dog fighting and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon charges. ZHAQWAUN JEVONTAE GARY, 22, was sentenced to six months imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release, for a felony dog fighting charge.
On April 7, 2013, the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint that a dog fight was taking place at the Gary’s residence in Halifax County. When deputies arrived at the home, blood samples were obtained from an area that appeared to have had recent dog fighting and multiple animals were seized. In the shed, deputies located a steel bucket with bloody water, and what appeared to be a ring or pit for dog fighting. A carpet with blood was found and there were blood splatters on the walls. The American Pit Bull Terriers were located in a wooden fenced in area and there was blood at the bottom of the fence.
Several pit bulls were chained up within the fence. Deputies located approximately 17 dogs (pit bulls). Each had wounds and scars consistent with dog fighting. While looking for evidence of dog fighting, deputies located marijuana plants growing in a shed on the property. Deputies obtained a search warrant based on the discovery. There were approximately 68 plants, a grow light, seeds, timers, heaters, etc. in support of the growing operation. A search warrant was also executed at the Gary’s home. Two firearms, one loaded, were located in the closet of the bedroom shared by ERICA and ELTON GARY.
The criminal investigation of this case was conducted by Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, Halifax County Animal Control, the North Carolina State Crime Laboratory, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives (ATF) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney S. Katherine Burnette is handling the case on behalf of the government.
Oklahoma Man Sentenced to 30 Months Imprisonment for Conspiracy to Defraud A Cary, NC CompanyRead the Press Release
RALEIGH –United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that yesterday in federal court, Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever III sentenced BRENT ALLAN DILONARDO, 58, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, to 30 months imprisonment, 3 years supervised release, and $219,304 restitution. On July 11, 2016, DILONARDO pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud.
The Criminal Information alleged that DILONARDO and co-conspirator John Michael Wade had contracted with a company in China to supply tools to their company headquartered in Cary, NC. DILONARDO, Wade, and the Chinese company reached an agreement to inflate the invoices to DILONARDO’S company. After DILONARDO’S company paid the inflated invoices to the Chinese company, the Chinese company paid the inflated amounts to DILONARDO, who in turn split the proceeds with Wade. Wade incorporated a business to receive his share of the proceeds. Wade pled guilty in February, 2016 to the same offense and was sentenced on September 13, 2016 to twelve months and one-day imprisonment. DILONARDO received a higher sentence than Wade based in part on his leadership role in the conspiracy to defraud.
The criminal investigation of this case was conducted by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney David Bragdon handled the case on behalf of the Government.
Smithfield Man Found Guilty of Heroin and Methamphetamine Distribution Charges and Maintaining a DwellingRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that yesterday, FRANKY LOUIS HOSTON, 26, was found guilty in a jury trial of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, and maintaining a dwelling for the purpose of distributing, manufacturing and using methamphetamine and heroin.
HOSTON, along with two others, was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 15, 2015.
In late spring, 2015, a Smithfield Police Officer received information from a confidential source who stated that there was a male in Smithfield that sells heroin. This confidential source stated that the individual was selling multiple ounces of heroin.
At the beginning of June, 2015, another officer of the Smithfield Police Department, received an anonymous tip regarding illegal drug activity HOSTON’s residence on Boyette Circle in Smithfield, North Carolina. As a result, the Smithfield Police Department began to conduct surveillance on the residence. Just as the first concerned citizen noted, Smithfield officers observed multiple vehicles briefly stopping for short times at the residence.
A roadside trash pull was conducted by Smithfield Police Department on July 16, 2015, at the residence. Numerous items commonly associated with narcotics were discovered. A search warrant of the residence was obtained and on July 17, 2015, officers from the Smithfield Police Department arrived at the residence to serve the search warrant.
The defendant along with two others were discovered in the residence. During the search of Hoston’s room, officers found a Diamondback DB380 handgun with six rounds of .380 ammunition in the magazine, and two cell phones. Additionally, officers located two bindles of suspected heroin on a counter between living room and kitchen. While shining their light in the common area, multiple crystals consistent with methamphetamine were illuminated on the floor. In addition, there was a plastic cup containing approximately three fourths of an ounce of crystal methamphetamine in the coffee table. Approximately $6,000.00 was located along with ammunition and heroin in a kitchen cabinet. A large wrapper with meth crystal residue and large scale were located in the laundry room.
In addition to locating a large amount of methamphetamine, heroin, currency, and two loaded pistols in one of the bedrooms, officers located methamphetamine and marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a phone, and $531.00, in another bedroom.
The case was investigated by the Smithfield Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, North Carolina State Crime Lab, and the Johnston County Sheriff's Office. Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Burnette handled the prosecution on behalf of the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Jacksonville Man Sentenced for Heroin Distribution and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW BERN – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that yesterday in federal court, United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced JUAN RAMIREZ-MARTINEZ, a/k/a Panda, 28, a legal resident of Mexico living in Jacksonville, to 128 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
RAMIREZ-MARTINEZ was named in a seven-count Indictment filed on March 16, 2016. On May 11, 2016, RAMIREZ-MARTINEZ pled guilty to four counts, including Conspiracy to Possess With Intent to Distribute a Quantity of Heroin; Possession With Intent to Distribute a Quantity of Heroin; Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
During the investigation, multiple controlled purchases and seizures of heroin were conducted from the conspirators with the use of confidential informants (CI’s). Based on these controlled purchases and information regarding trips taken by RAMIREZ-MARTINEZ to resupply, the defendant is accountable for at least 308 grams of heroin. He is also considered to have possessed a firearm in connection with his drug trafficking activities.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Jacksonville Police Department, Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Laura Howard represented the government.
Harnett County Man Sentenced to 30 Years for the Manufacturing of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that today in federal court, Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever, sentenced CLARENCE WILLARD ALBRITTON, 37, of Harnett County, to 360 months imprisonment followed by a lifetime of supervised release.
ALBRITTON was named in a 10-count Indictment filed on March 2, 2016. On June 27, 2016, he pled guilty to one count of the Manufacture of Child Pornography.
On July 25, 2015, the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) in Lillington, initiated an investigation related to the production of child pornography (CP). On that date, ALBRITTON’s wife contacted them about a computer flash drive she located in ALBRITTON’s vehicle. The flash drive contained child pornography images. Body parts, tattoos, and clothing confirmed the identification of the adult male as ALBRITTON. Additionally, his wife surrendered a laptop computer and a second computer flash drive to authorities. The defendant was arrested in New Jersey on July 31, 2015. Incident to his arrest, authorities seized a cellular phone and laptop computer. A preliminary forensic examination of the ALBRITTON’s computer and media storage devices uncovered at least 85 sexually explicit images of a 3-year-old child victim. A complete forensic examination of ALBRITTON’s computers and media storage devices uncovered 642 images of CP with multiple images of infants.
The criminal investigation of this case was conducted by the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant United States Attorney Ethan A. Ontjes is handling the prosecution on behalf of the Eastern District of North Carolina.
This case was part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a national program aimed at ensuring that criminals exploiting children are effectively prosecuted by making full use of all available law enforcement resources at every level. For more information about this important national project, Project Safe Childhood, go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
More Than Twenty Face Federal and State Charges in and Around Sampson County for Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announce the arrests of five defendants pursuant to Federal Criminal Complaints for Narcotics Conspiracy today in Sampson County.
- Antonio McKoy, 30, of Garland, NC
- James Daniel McKoy, 51, of Garland, NC
- Bryant Carr, 37, of Roseboro, NC
- Andrekia Parker, 23, of Garland, NC
- Anthony Barnes, 30, of Turkey, NC
The individual below also charged by Criminal Complaint is still at large.
- Tony Chevallier, 30, of Turkey, NC
Over 20 federal and state arrest warrants were executed today in and around Sampson County as part of a yearlong investigation into a violent multi-defendant drug trafficking organization. During this investigation, law enforcement was able to seize over 11 pounds of cocaine and purchase several firearms.
The charges and allegations contained in the Compliants are merely accusations. The defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The case is a federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) criminal matter being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Jacksonville Police Department, Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Probation Office, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the North Carolina Departments of Revenue and Emergency Management.
Men Sentenced to Life for KidnappingRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that in federal court yesterday, Senior United States District Judge W. Earl Britt sentenced AKIN SEAN EL PRECISE BEY, 47, of Knightdale, North Carolina to life imprisonment.
On December 7, 2015 a federal jury convicted BEY of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and kidnapping and for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. A coconspirator GEORGE LINCOLN STANLEY IV, 47, of Durham, North Carolina was also convicted of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and kidnapping and was sentenced to life imprisonment on June 6, 2016.
Two other individuals, HUBERT DIXON, 43, of Durham, North Carolina, and JUDSON HUGH DEBNAM, 34, of Raleigh, North Carolina, were also charged with crimes related to this incident and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery. DIXON was sentenced to 47 months’ imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release on March 28, 2016. DEBNAM was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment followed by 3 years supervised release on September 26, 2016.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that the victim was kidnapped from his home after returning from attending a boxing match in Las Vegas. The victim was targeted for kidnapping due to the belief that he had access to large amounts of cash. The defendants broke into the victim’s house and waited for the victim to return home from Las Vegas. Upon the victim’s return home, the defendants attacked him, restrained him, and ransacked his home in search of cash. The defendants then drove the victim to a storage unit where the victim was held and tortured as the defendants demanded more money. A large sum of cash was ultimately taken from the victim. At the time of their arrests, BEY had over $55,000.00 cash in his home and STANLEY had over $21,000.00 cash in his pocket.
Crime scene technicians recovered the kidnappers’ fingerprints, as well as the victim’s blood, within the storage unit. Zip ties were still attached to a chair within the storage unit and the victim’s personal identification was located on a table. The victim, who was severely injured with a swollen eye, broken leg, ligature marks on his wrists and ankles, and duct tape still attached to his face and neck, was eventually located by law enforcement on a dark dirt road in Nash County, North Carolina.
A search warrant executed at BEY’S house uncovered six firearms; an AR-15 rifle, .32 caliber pistol, Judge Long Colt revolver, .40 caliber pistol, .38 caliber revolver, and a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun. At the time, BEY was prohibited from possessing any firearms as he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Raleigh Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Raleigh/Wake City-County Bureau of Identification, State Bureau of Investigation, Wake County Sheriff’s Office, Durham County Sheriff’s Office and Johnston County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Holbrook and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dena King represented the government.
North Carolina Commercial Fisherman Pleads Guilty to Illegally Harvesting and Selling Atlantic Striped BassRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that today in federal court, DEWEY W. WILLIS, JR., 39, of Newport pled guilty to federal charges regarding the illegal harvest and sale of Atlantic striped bass from federal waters off the coast of North Carolina during 2010.
In February 2010, a Special Agent with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) received information that commercial trawlers were illegally fishing for Atlantic Striped Bass in federal waters off the coast of North Carolina. Since 1990, there has been a ban on the harvesting of Atlantic Striped Bass in the United States’ Exclusive Economic Zone (“EEZ”) which spans between 3 miles and 200 miles seaward of the U.S. Atlantic coastline.
Upon receiving the information, NOAA engaged the assistance of the U.S. Coast Guard. A single patrol vessel in the area intercepted one of 17 commercial trawlers in the EEZ, (the fishing vessel Lady Samaira), boarded the vessel, and found 173 Atlantic Striped Bass. The captain later admitted to taking the fish from the EEZ.
Given the other commercial trawlers in the same area, NOAA conducted an analysis of electronic data and written reports from those vessels. Based on its review, NOAA determined that between January 31, 2010, and February 3, 2010, WILLIS, then Captain of the Helen W. Smith, a commercial trawler, harvested more than 3,000 pounds of Atlantic Striped Bass, which he sold to fish dealers in Wanchese and Beaufort, North Carolina.
“The illegal poaching of striped bass by commercial fishermen has a major impact on the survival of this iconic fish resource and has the potential to devastate the future livelihoods of law abiding commercial fishermen,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Today’s plea agreement demonstrates the department’s dedication to pursuing those who fail to respect the law and fail to adequately monitor their harvest to stay within legal limits.”
“Our office was pleased to partner with the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice in this significant case,” said U.S. Attorney John Stuart Bruce. “This prosecution makes clear that efforts to circumvent laws regulating commercial fishing will be enforced vigorously.”
According to the Atlantic Marine Fisheries Commission, “striped bass have formed the basis of one of the most important fisheries on the Atlantic coast for centuries. Early records recount their abundance as being so great at one time they were used to fertilize fields. However, overfishing and poor environmental conditions lead to the collapse of the fishery in the 1980s.”
In 2015, the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, along with other states, reduced by twenty-five percent the catch limits of Atlantic Striped Bass in the Atlantic Ocean and Albemarle Sound/Roanoke River areas, citing a decline in stocks. The division cited 2013 surveys revealing that the female spawning stock has been steadily declining. The reduction applies to all commercial and recreational striped bass fishing for all the eastern coastal states.
A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for December 12, 2016.
WILLIS faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The investigation was conducted by the Law Enforcement Offices of NOAA, with assistance of the Investigative Service from the U.S. Coast Guard, the North Carolina Marine Patrol, and the Virginia Marine Police. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Banumathi Rangarajan and Trial Attorney Shennie Patel of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section.
Former Town of Cary Employee Pleads Guilty to Falsifying Drinking Water Sampling ResultsRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that today in federal court, CHRISTOPHER DALE MILLER, 41, of Cary, North Carolina, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to making material false statements in connection with sampling required under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
According to the Criminal Information and information in the public record, MILLER was employed by the Town of Cary as a state certified distribution technician. MILLER was responsible for, among other things, collecting water samples for testing from the drinking water system and testing for residual chlorine in the field. MILLER was further responsible for collecting samples from various locations; packaging and placing the samples in a cooler; and delivering them to the Town of Cary’s lab where they were tested for total coliform and bacteria. MILLER, however, failed to do so. The investigation revealed that MILLER made false statements by certifying to the Town of Cary that he obtained water samples from the required locations when, in reality, he only took samples from a few locations. The certified sample locations were submitted along with the lab results to North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (“NCDEQ”) (formerly known as the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources). The samples and associated documentation are required as part of the NC DENR’s drinking water monitoring program. By sending falsified samples and documents to NC DENR, MILLER inhibited NC DENR from carrying out its mission to protect public water supplies and thereby public health.
Between August 27, 2014 and December 2014, MILLER falsified documentation for at least 278 samples.
The Town of Cary discovered the falsified sampling in late December 2014 and conducted an internal investigation. MILLER initially lied to his supervisors, and then later, admitted to collecting multiple samples from the same site and falsifying chain of custody documents. MILLER knew that his conduct impacted 225,000 consumers of the public water system.
The Town of Cary terminated MILLER, promptly reported the matter to state officials, and fully cooperated in the federal investigation.
MILLER is scheduled to be sentenced on December 12, 2016.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the United States Environment Protection Agency – Criminal Investigation Division and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation – Drug Diversion and Environmental Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Banumathi Rangarajan handled the prosecution on behalf to the Eastern District of North Carolina with the assistance of EPA Region IV – Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel/Special Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Lewis.
Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week EventsRead the Press Release
RALEIGH/GREENSBORO/CHARLOTTE – The United States Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina, in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announce the formation of the Federal Opioid Reduction Alliance for North Carolina, a coordinated state-wide effort to address the increasing dangers posed to the residents of North Carolina by heroin and opiate distribution, abuse, and overdose. The Alliance will work together with State and local partners to increase awareness, prevention efforts, and prosecutions related to heroin and other opioids in North Carolina. By implementing the attached Strategic Initiative, the United States Attorneys’ Offices hope to complement existing efforts across the state and enhance the ability of law enforcement to keep our communities safe.
In conjunction with the announcement of the Alliance, the United States Attorneys’ Offices will hold several events in observance of Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week, September 18-24, 2016.
Within the Eastern District:
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September 20, 2016 - An Executive Session for Law Enforcement to discuss heroin & opioid abuse, distribution, and overdose issues. All Police Chiefs, Sheriffs, and Federal Law Enforcement Agency heads within the Eastern District of North Carolina are welcome to attend.
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September 22, 2016 - A Community Town Hall at the Pullen Park Community Center in Raleigh from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. The opiate crisis we face is not just a crime problem, it is a community public health problem, and we hope you will join us for this important event.
Within the Middle District:
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September 20, 2016 - A Opiate Awareness Meeting at the Wesleyan Academy, Performing Arts Center, 1915 N. Centennial Ave., High Point, NC. The opiate crisis we face is not just a crime problem, it is a community public health problem, and we hope you will join us for this important event.
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September 22, 2016 - An Executive Session for Law Enforcement to discuss heroin & opioid abuse, distribution, and overdose issues. All Police Chiefs, Sheriffs, State and Federal Law Enforcement Agency heads within the Middle District of North Carolina are welcome to attend.
Within the Western District:
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September 19, 2016 – “We Are a Community United Against Heroin,” is a daylong heroin and opiate addiction awareness summit hosted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in partnership with the DEA, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the Cherokee Indian Police Department, on the rising of prescription opiates and heroin abuse and the epidemic of heroin related overdose deaths on the reservation and surrounding areas in western North Carolina. This summit will educate community members, law enforcement and service providers about opiate and heroin distribution, the physiological effects of the drugs and introduce the community to interventions and best practices that are available within the boundaries of the EBCI and the western North Carolina region.
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Federal Jury Finds Wilmington Man Guilty of Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW BERN – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that Wednesday, a federal jury in New Bern found KRISTOPHER OWEN DANIELS, 31, of Wilmington guilty of four criminal charges: possession with the intent to distribute cocaine base (crack) and marijuana; knowingly used and carried a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and two counts of possession of firearm by a convicted felon.
Daniels was named in an Indictment originally filed on November 12, 2014. DANIELS was arrested on May 31, 2014, after police responded to a when a 911 call requesting police assistance at a residence in Wilmington. After uniformed Wilmington Police officers responded, DANIELS ran towards the back yard of the house, and threw a bag of crack (over 20 grams) and a black Taurus .380 firearm while officers were chasing him. A fence in the backyard prevented him from fleeing and he turned and threw marijuana at one of the pursuing officers. Currency in the amount of $2,100.00 also was recovered from DANIELS.
A Wilmington Police Department detective obtained a search warrant for the home. A search of DANIELS’ bedroom revealed a box of .380 ammunition, more United States currency, marijuana seeds, and a Charter Arms .38 revolver.
At sentencing, DANIELS faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives; the Wilmington Police Department, including the Wilmington Police Department Crime Laboratory; and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney S. Katherine Burnette represented the government.
Fayetteville Man Sentenced for Violent Hobbs Act Robbery and Discharging of a Firearm During a Crime of ViolenceRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that today in federal court, Senior United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard sentenced ERNEST TULSIDA CARPENTER, 44, of Fayetteville to 190 months imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release.
On December 9, 2014, CARPENTER was armed with a semi-automatic handgun when he entered Moe’s Southwest Grill at 201 N. McPherson Street in Fayetteville, North Carolina, as an employee was taking the trash out. CARPENTER, who wore a black mask to conceal his face, approached the employee and demanded money from the safe. CARPENTER threatened that he would “shoot every employee in the business” if the safe was not opened. At the time of the robbery, four employees and several customers were inside the restaurant. CARPENTER forced the employees, at gunpoint, to the rear of the building where the office was located. After the manager opened the safe, the defendant leaned down to retrieve money and an employee lunged at CARPENTER. A struggle ensued and the defendant fired two rounds from his firearm. One employee was shot in the foot and a second employee was shot in the abdomen. During the struggle, the defendant’s ski mask was partially removed and CARPENTER’s face was exposed. CARPENTER fled on foot, without taking any money, but was apprehended shortly after the robbery. Once detained, CARPENTER’s eye began to swell as a result of the struggle with the employee.
On May 9, 2016, CARPENTER pled guilty to the charges of Interference with Commerce by Robbery and Discharging of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Fayetteville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Jane Jackson represented the government.
Heroin and Opioid Awareness Week EventsRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announces events in observance of the National Heroin & Opioid Awareness Week, September 19-23, 2016.
On September 20, 2016, an Executive Session for Law Enforcement will take place to discuss heroin & opioid abuse, distribution, and overdose issues. All Police Chiefs, Sheriffs, and Federal Law Enforcement Agency heads within the Eastern District of North Carolina are welcome to attend.
The Opiate crisis we face is not just a crime problem, it is a community public health problem. In recognition of the importance of citizen input, our office will host a Community Town Hall on September 22, 2016, at the Pullen Park Community Center in Raleigh. Please join us for this important event.
Two Greek Shipping Companies and Engineers Convicted of Pollution Crimes and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON—A federal jury in Greenville, North Carolina, has convicted Oceanic Illsabe Limited, Oceanfleet Shipping Limited and two of their employees of violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS), obstruction of justice, false statements, witness tampering and conspiracy, announced Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden, head of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and U.S. Attorney John Stuart Bruce of the Eastern District of North Carolina. Oceanic Illsabe Limited is the owner of the M/V Ocean Hope, a large cargo vessel that was responsible for dumping tons of oily waste into the Pacific Ocean last year. Oceanfleet Shipping Limited was the managing operator of the vessel. Both companies operate out of Greece. Also convicted at trial were two senior engineering officers who worked aboard the vessel, Rustico Ignacio and Cassius Samson. The jury convicted on each of the nine counts in the indictment.
The operation of marine vessels, like the M/V Ocean Hope, generates large quantities of oil sludge and oil-contaminated waste water. International and U.S. law require that these vessels use pollution prevention equipment, known as an oil-water separator, to preclude the discharge of these materials. Should any overboard discharges occur, they must be documented in an oil record book, a log that is regularly inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard. The evidence presented to the jury showed that in June 2015, the vessel discharged around ten metric tons of sludge into the ocean. The vessel was also regularly pumping contaminated water directly overboard. None of these discharges were disclosed as required.
“Our office was pleased to partner with the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division in this significant case,” said U.S. Attorney Bruce. “We will continue to vigorously enforce federal laws designed to prevent the pollution of the world’s oceans.”
“While the vast majority of vessel owners, operators, and crews who do business in the United States follow our environmental laws, every year, a few unscrupulous commercial mariners obstruct justice in an attempt to hide from the Coast Guard the intentional discharge of large quantities of pollutants into the oceans,” said Rear Admiral Meredith Austin, commander of the Fifth Coast Guard District. “Coast Guard Marine Inspectors and the Coast Guard Investigative Service, in concert with the Department of Justice, will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who do this.”
The evidence presented during the nine-day trial demonstrated that the companies were aware that the ship had not offloaded any oil sludge from the vessel since September 2014 and that the ship rarely used its oil-water separator. Instead, the vessel’s second engineer, Samson, ordered crewmembers to connect what is known in the industry as a “magic pipe” to bypass the vessel’s oil-water separator and pump oil sludge overboard. In addition, crewmembers were ordered to pump oily water from the vessel’s bilges directly into the ocean up to several times per week. The dumping occurred with the knowledge and approval of the ship’s chief engineer, Ignacio. Finally, the engineers used a tank designated for oily wastes to store diesel fuel for sale on the black market.
Upon arriving at the Port of Wilmington, Oceanic, Oceanfleet, Ignacio and Samson attempted to hide these discharges by presenting a false and fictitious oil record book to U.S. Coast Guard inspectors. When inspectors uncovered evidence of dumping, the defendants ordered lower-level crewmembers to lie to Coast Guard personnel. Samson also made several false statements to a Coast Guard inspector regarding the bypass of the oil-water separator.
At the conclusion of trial, defendants Oceanic and Oceanfleet were convicted of one count of conspiracy, one count of violating APPS, two counts of obstruction of justice, one count of false statements and four counts of witness tampering. Ignacio was convicted of one count of conspiracy, one count of violating APPS, one count of obstruction of justice and two counts of witness tampering. Samson was convicted of one count of conspiracy, one count of violating APPS, two counts of obstruction of justice, one count of false statements and three counts of witness tampering. The companies could be fined up to $500,000 per count, in addition to other possible penalties. Ignacio and Samson face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the obstruction of justice charges.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard Sector North Carolina, the Coast Guard Investigative Service and U.S. Coast Guard District Five. Civil Chief Norman Acker and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Anderson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina provided additional expertise and assistance with the pretrial phase of the case. The attorneys prosecuting the case were Senior Trial Attorney Kenneth Nelson and Trial Attorney Brendan Selby, of the Department of Justice’s Environmental Crimes Section and Banu Rangarajan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Federal Jury Finds Man Guilty of Conspiracy and Possession with Intent to Distribute Three Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
NEW BERN – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that Wednesday, a federal jury in New Bern found RAMON SANMARTIN, JR. guilty of conspiracy to possess and possession with the intent to distribute three kilograms of cocaine.
SANMARTIN was named in an Indictment originally filed on November 3, 2015. SANMARTIN was arrested on August 26, 2015 when he picked up a package sent to him via the United States Postal Service from San Juan, Puerto Rico to a Days Inn hotel in Morrisville, NC. The package was intercepted by Inspectors with the United States Postal Inspection Service, who were able to open the package and find three bricks of cocaine, totaling approximately three kilograms.
At sentencing, SANMARTIN faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years imprisonment and a maximum of 40 years imprisonment.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, and the Raleigh Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Howard and Edward Gray represented the government.
Pollocksville Man Sentenced to 300 Months for Drugs, FirearmsRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that in federal court on August 30, 3016, Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever, III, sentenced JOHN ABNEY SR., 54, of Pollocksville, North Carolina, to a total term of 300 months imprisonment.
ABNEY was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 15, 2015. ABNEY pleaded guilty on May 19, 2016, to one count of distributing more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, 280 grams of crack, and a quantity of oxycodone, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking activity.
ABNEY’s charges arose out of an investigation by federal and state law enforcement agencies. Their investigation revealed that ABNEY had been involved in narcotics trafficking going back as far as 2009. Agents followed up on recent reports of illegal narcotic sales and an “open air drug market” taking place at several residences associated with ABNEY in Pollocksville and Maysville, North Carolina. Agents also utilized confidential informants to make several controlled buys of drugs from those locations. On May 29, 2015, with the assistance of local law enforcement, agents and officers executed three search warrants simultaneously at the residences where they had previously purchased drugs from ABNEY or his associates. As a result of their search warrants, agents recovered over $187,000 in drug proceeds and two firearms (a shotgun and a semi-automatic pistol), as well as varying quantities of cocaine, crack, marijuana, and methadone.
At his sentencing hearing, Judge Dever determined that ABNEY was responsible for distributing more than 15.8 kilograms of crack cocaine from 2009 through 2015. He was sentenced to a term of 240 months imprisonment for drug distribution, and a consecutive term of 60 months for his firearm offense, resulting in a total term of imprisonment of 300 months.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, Jones County Sheriff’s Office, Jacksonville Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Cooley, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Holbrook represented the government. Mr. Holbrook is a prosecutor with the Wake County District Attorney’s Office, and Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman has assigned him to the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force criminal matters. Mr. Holbrook’s assignment to the United States Attorney’s Office is made possible by grants funded by the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys.
Men Sentenced for Three Violent Hobbs Act Robberies and Firearm Offenses in Fayetteville & LumbertonRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that today in federal court, United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced SMITH MERINORD, 23, of Dunn to 865 months imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release and CORTESE TRAMAND DAVIS, 26, of Henderson to 528 months imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release.
MERINORD and DAVIS were named in a 12-count Superseding Indictment filed on September 9, 2015. On June 7, 2016, DAVIS pled guilty to 4-counts and MERINORD was found guilty of 6-counts in the Superseding Indictment on June 8, 2016. Both entered the Advance Auto Parts Store on Owen Drive in Fayetteville on November 2, 2013 and MERINORD was armed with a small Uzi and DAVIS was armed with mace. They threatened the employees with the firearm during the robbery and MERINORD raped and sexually assaulted a female employee before fleeing with cash. Prior to departing, DAVIS sprayed the employees with mace. Later that day, MERINORD and DAVIS robbed another Advanced Auto on Roberts Avenue in Lumberton. MERINORD again threatened store employees with the Uzi and they fled with cash and a .22 caliber revolver from one of the victims.
On November 8, 2013, DAVIS was arrested and provided an unprotected statement wherein he denied participation in the rape and claimed to not know the name of his accomplice. He acknowledged his participation in the robberies.
On November 16, 2013, MERINORD and another accomplice entered the Red Lobster located on McPherson Church Road in Fayetteville and held the manager at gunpoint and stole cash before fleeing. Off duty officers and other law enforcement apprehended MERINORD and his accomplice in the CarMax parking lot located near the Red Lobster. MERINORD had a small Uzi in his waistband.
This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Fayetteville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorneys Frank Bradsher and Peggah Wilson represented the government.
Former Santa Claus & Magician for Kids' Parties Sentenced for the Manufacturing of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that today in federal court, Senior United States District Judge James C. Fox, sentenced LEANDER DEWEY JONES, 65, of Raleigh, to 360 months imprisonment followed by a lifetime of supervised release.
JONES, who was employed as a Santa Claus and magician for kids’ parties, was discovered producing Child Pornography (CP) of his two grandchildren while in his care. On May 29, 2015, Jones brought his desktop computer in for repair to a store in Raleigh, and while examining the computer hard drive for viruses and malware, a computer technician located a folder containing CP. He alerted the store owner who in turn contacted the Raleigh Police Department regarding the CP.
A state search warrant was obtained and a subsequent computer forensics examination of items seized from JONES revealed approximately 4,000 images of CP on the computer and external hard drives. Further, examination of CDs and floppy discs seized, revealed approximately 1,000 images of CP.
On May 9, 2016, JONES pled guilty to one count of the Manufacture of Child Pornography.
The criminal investigation of this case was conducted by the Raleigh Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Ethan A. Ontjes is handling the prosecution on behalf of the Eastern District of North Carolina.
This case was part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a national program aimed at ensuring that criminals exploiting children are effectively prosecuted by making full use of all available law enforcement resources at every level. For more information about this important national project, Project Safe Childhood, go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Former Navy Range Manager Sentenced to 18 Months for Accepting Illegal GratuitiesRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that on Friday, August 19, 2016, in federal court, Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever III sentenced HARRY C. MANN, 80, of Manns Harbor, North Carolina, to an 18-month term of imprisonment, ordered him to pay $149,999 in restitution to the United States Defense Logistics Agency, and imposed a $75,000 fine. On October 28, 2015, MANN pled guilty to a Criminal Information charging him with one count of accepting illegal gratuities.
According to the United States Attorney’s factual proffer at the plea hearing, MANN, had been employed by the Navy at the range southwest of Manteo, since 1968. The range provides air warfare training support to the Navy and the Marine Corps. Aviators practice dropping inert bombs and firing live rounds of ammunition at practice targets. As range manager, MANN’S official duties included constructing and maintaining the targets. Between January 2005 and May 2011, MANN requisitioned approximately 16 million dollars in excess government property, which included many types of functional heavy equipment, like trucks, excavators, bulldozers, cranes, trailers, and metal connex boxes. He obtained the property from the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office (DRMO), which was created by the Department of Defense to centralize the disposal of excess property for better accountability and to reutilize military property within the Department of Defense. If the Department of Defense no longer has use for the property, excess material may be used for emergency management in the United States and humanitarian aid worldwide. The Department of Defense could also sell excess property to the public.
MANN, however, without proper authorization, sold DRMO acquired property to local metal scrappers. These men paid MANN a percentage of the proceeds they received for scrapping numerous pieces of heavy equipment and aluminum expedition runway matting. In total, these men state they paid MANN approximately $175,000 in kickbacks. MANN, according to the government’s proffer, demanded that these men pay him in cash when they were alone so others could not witness the payments. One such cash payment of $16,300 was paid to MANN at his residence on May 18, 2011. MANN told the local scrapper to put the envelope of cash in a flower pot.
The investigation of this case was jointly conducted by the Navy Criminal Investigative Service, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), and the Defense Logistics Agency, Office of the Inspector General. The Navy was first alerted of the criminal activity by inspectors from the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles after witnessing the transportation of heavy pieces of equipment in the Edenton area. Assistant United States Attorney Susan B. Menzer represented the government.
Smithfield Man Sentenced for Felon in Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that today in federal court, Senior United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard sentenced DONTRELL KHALI MCDONALD, 24, of Smithfield, North Carolina to 30 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
MCDONALD was named in an Indictment filed on January 5, 2016 charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm. On March 7, 2016, MCDONALD pled guilty to that charge.
On October 31, 2015, officers with the Smithfield Police Department, responded to a call of an individual walking the streets waving two firearms. When officers approached the area, MCDONALD began running through a housing complex in an attempt to elude arrest. The chase ensued, and MCDONALD ran into a crowded flea market. A bystander, who had observed the chase, tripped MCDONALD, who fell to the ground. As MCDONALD hit the pavement, a firearm flew from his waistband. Officers also seized another firearm from MCDONALD.
Law enforcement seized a Bersa .380 firearm and a Lorcin .380 firearm, which was later determined to be stolen. Both firearms were loaded with one bullet in the chamber and two additional rounds in a magazine.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Smithfield Police Department, Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney S. Katherine Burnette represented the government.
Hollister Man Sentenced for Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that in federal court today, Senior United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard, sentenced RANDY LYNCH, 50, of Hollister, North Carolina, to 96 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. LYNCH previously pled guilty to this charge on November 9, 2015.
On July 1, 2015, undercover agents with the Department of Homeland Security arranged a delivery of 7 kilograms of cocaine to LYNCH at a truck stop off of Interstate 85 in Vance County. LYNCH drove a tow truck from his wrecker service business to the truck stop and met with agents. Agents arrested LYNCH after he took possession of the 7 kilograms. Agents seized $100,000 from LYNCH’S tow truck that LYNCH had brought to purchase the cocaine. During a search of LYNCH’S residence, agents recovered another $18,450 and two firearms.
LYNCH had been the subject of a long-term investigation conducted by several federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, the United States Marshal Service, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office. Agents determined during the investigation, which included interviews of LYNCH’S previous co-conspirators, that LYNCH was responsible for distributing 273 kilograms of cocaine since 1991.
Judge Howard also ordered LYNCH to forfeit the two firearms seized from his residence and $500,000, representing the gross proceeds of the conspiracy. LYNCH satisfied the forfeiture order prior to sentencing by consenting to the forfeiture of the $100,000 seized upon his arrest and the $18,450 seized from his residence. LYNCH satisfied the remaining $381,550 by selling his salvage yard business located in Hollister.
The federal prosecution was handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney Glenn Perry. Mr. Perry is a prosecutor with the Pitt County District Attorney’s Office. Pitt County District Attorney Kimberly Robb has assigned Mr. Perry to the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force criminal matters. Mr. Perry’s assignment to the United States Attorney’s Office has been made possible by grants funded by the Governor’s Crime Commission. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Steve West.
Former Staff Sergeant at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Sentenced to 15 Years for the Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NEW BERN – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that in federal court today STEVEN C. DAVIDSON, 36, of Pikeville, North Carolina, was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment followed by a lifetime of supervised release by United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan, for one count of receipt of child pornography.
DAVIDSON was previously a member of the United States Air Force assigned as an Air Traffic Controller at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base at the time of his offense. On January 13, 2016 DAVIDSON pled guilty to the charge.
On November 5, 2014, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base (SJAFB) in Goldsboro, North Carolina, initiated an investigation after a government computer was utilized to conduct online searches for material related to child exploitation and child pornography (CP). The individual was subsequently identified as DAVIDSON, a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force (USAF), based on his military login credentials. On November 19, 2014, agents seized four government computers that DAVIDSON accessed within the past year. On the same date, agents conducted a search of the defendant’s residence and seized a computer. Based on the investigation, DAVIDSON used a computer to receive, trade, and store CP. Forensic examination uncovered at least 720 images and 30 videos depicting CP.
The criminal investigation of this case was conducted by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Ethan A. Ontjes is handling the prosecution on behalf of the Eastern District of North Carolina.
This case was part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a national program aimed at ensuring that criminals exploiting children are effectively prosecuted by making full use of all available law enforcement resources at every level. For more information about this important national project, Project Safe Childhood, go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Northampton Man Sentenced for Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that in federal court today, Senior United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard, sentenced ANTHONY TYRONE MOODY, 45, of Seaboard, North Carolina, to 84 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. MOODY previously pled guilty to this charge on August 10, 2015.
On September 10, 2014, the Greenville Regional Drug Task Force and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation arrested MOODY when MOODY was delivering 8 ounces of cocaine to a cooperating witness. The investigation revealed that MOODY was responsible for distributing 45 kilograms of cocaine since the early 2000’s.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Greenville Regional Drug Task Force and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The federal prosecution was handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney Glenn Perry. Mr. Perry is a prosecutor with the Pitt County District Attorney’s Office. Pitt County District Attorney Kimberly Robb has assigned Mr. Perry to the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force criminal matters. Mr. Perry’s assignment to the United States Attorney’s Office has been made possible by grants funded by the Governor’s Crime Commission.
Middlesex Man Sentenced for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that today in federal court, United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced HAROLD DEVON SCARBORO, 25, of Middlesex, North Carolina to 18 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
SCARBORO was named in an Indictment filed on July 7, 2015 charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base (crack), and marijuana. On March 2, 2016, SCARBORO pled guilty to that charge.
SCARBORO was identified as one of several cocaine distributors at an open-air drug market located at 357 Barns Lake Road, Middlesex, North Carolina, known as “Blazin Saddles.”
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Lawrence J. Cameron represented the government.
Smithfield Man Sentenced for Being A Felon in Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that today in federal court today, Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever III sentenced ROGER WATSON, III, 29, of Smithfield, North Carolina to 102 months followed by 3 years supervised release for possession of a firearm by a felon.
WATson was named in an Indictment filed on January 5, 2016 charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and he pled guilty to that charge on April 4, 2016.
On June 29, 2015, officers with the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO), responded to a burglary on Stewart Road in Four Oaks, North Carolina. Upon arrival, the victim informed officers that he returned home to find an unfamiliar vehicle, later determined to be registered to ROGER WATSON, III, parked in his backyard. Moments later, the victim was confronted by
WATSON and an unidentified male, both of whom pointed firearms at the victim, directed him to move his truck, and then fled the scene. The victim obtained WATSON’S license plate number and provided it to officers, who then responded to the defendant’s residence and observed WATSON driving towards his home. Officers conducted a traffic stop on WATSON and took him into custody. During the arrest, WATSON informed officers they had the wrong car because his car was broken and leaking power steering fluid. He further asserted that he had just purchased the jewelry in his car from an unknown male in Selma, North Carolina. After a search of the defendant’s vehicle and cellular phone, as well as a review of the physical evidence and witness statements, officers linked WATSON to two residential burglaries in Four Oaks, during which forced entry was made into each residence by prying open the front or rear door.
On June 30, 2015, WATSON provided an unprotected statement admitting to the burglaries on Stewart Road, as well as two burglaries on Devils Racetrack Road. WATSON asserted that the victim on Stewart Road owed him money, and that his accomplice (unidentified) took the victim’s gun out of his truck. Thereafter, WATSON kept the gun as collateral. WATSON declined to identify the second suspect, or the location of any additional stolen property.
On July 1, 2015, officers recovered photographs of a rifle and a shotgun stored in WATSON’S cellular phone, firearms which were subsequently confirmed stolen from the burglary on Lee’s Union Church Road. On July 2, 2015, officers served a search warrant at WATSON’S home; however, no additional stolen property was located.
On September 16, 2015, officers met with WATSON’S parents at the Sheriff’s Office storage lot, in order to return WATSON’S vehicle to them; however, the vehicle was inoperable. While attempting to locate the car battery, officers removed the air filter, at which time they discovered a loaded .22 caliber revolver, the handgun stolen from the burglary on Stewart Road.
The investigation revealed WATSON is responsible for the possession of five firearms, all of which were stolen during two residential burglaries between June 18, 2015, and June 29, 2015.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Frank Bradsher represented the government.
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News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s webpage at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.
New Bern Man Sentenced to 11 Years for Heroin Distribution and Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that in federal court today, Senior United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard sentenced JAMES WALTON WILLIAMS, 32, of New Bern, North Carolina, to 132 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
WILLIAMS was named in an Indictment filed on November 9, 2015. On March 7, 2016, WILLIAMS pled guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Quantity of Heroin and one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
In June 2014, investigators with the Coastal Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET) in Craven County, North Carolina, received information that WILLIAMS had traveled to New Jersey and obtained heroin for distribution. On June 18, 2014, CNET
Investigators conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in Craven County being driven by WILLIAMS. After a canine alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle, a subsequent search revealed a baggie containing an unspecified quantity of cocaine, half of a pill, a pill bottle containing six unknown pills, a cut straw with a powdery residue, and a burnt spoon.
Following his arrest, WILLIAMS agreed to take investigators to where the heroin was hidden. WILLIAMS led investigators to several locations including his house and a storage unit where heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine were located, as well as one stolen, loaded revolver. WILLIAMS also admitted selling heroin off and on for about two years.
The investigation revealed that from 2011 to August 2014, WILLIAMS was accountable for the possession of at least 699.8 grams of heroin, 4.08 grams of methamphetamine, and .9 gram of cocaine. WILLIAMS is also responsible for possessing a firearm in connection with his drug activities.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Coastal Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET). CNET is a multi-agency narcotics unit based in Craven County that functions under the direction and control of the Chief Executives. CNET is comprised of sworn law enforcement detectives from the New Bern Police Department, Craven County Sheriff’s Office, Carteret County Sheriff’s Office, Jones County Sheriff’s Office, Havelock Police Department, Trent Woods Police Department, Bridgeton Police Department, River Bend Police Department, and the Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office. This investigation was also assisted by the Wilmington office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Naval Criminal Investigative Service; District Attorney Scott Thomas; and Pamlico County Sheriff Chris Davis. Assistant United States Attorney Scott Lemmon represented the government.
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News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s webpage at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.
Lenoir County Physician Sentenced for Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolna announced that today in federal court, Senior United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard sentenced douglas elry watford, 60, of Kinston, North Carolina to 2 years probation. As part of his guilty plea and as a condition of his probation, WATFORD was required to surrender his license to practice medicine in the State of North Carolina and to never seek reinstatement of said license nor any license to practice medicine in any state or territory of the United States. WATFORD was also required to surrender his registration with the Drug Enforcement Administration to distribute and dispense controlled substances and to never seek reinstatement of said registration.
WATFORD was named in a Criminal Information filed on March 25, 2016 charging him with distribution of controlled substances by a DEA registrant contrary to federal regulations. On April 8, 2016, watford pleaded guilty to that charge.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the State Bureau of Investigation’s Diversion and Environmental Crimes Unit, the North Carolina Medical Board, the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kinston Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Lawrence J. Cameron represented the government.
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News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s webpage at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.
Former school teacher sentenced for receipt of child pornographyRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that in federal court today, Senior United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard sentenced WILLIAM EDWARDSON, JR., 56, of Jacksonville, North Carolina to 72 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release. The Court also ordered EDWARDSON to register as a sex offender.
EDWARDSON was named in an Indictment filed on September 2, 2015. On January 11, 2016, EDWARDSON pled guilty to one count of Receipt of Child Pornography (CP).
At the time of his indictment, EDWARDSON was a teacher and soccer coach at Trexler Middle School in Richlands, North Carolina.
In January 2015, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation identified an IP address downloading and sharing child pornography via a peer-to-peer network using the Shareaza law enforcement software program. As the investigation progressed, the address and user were identified as EDWARDSON. On February 6, 2015, a search warrant was executed at EDWARDSON’s residence in Jacksonville and a laptop computer and two thumb drives were seized. Forensic examination of the defendant’s computer revealed 424 images and 51 videos containing CP. EDWARDSON was interviewed and admitted to downloading visual depictions of minor children engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the NC State Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Ethan Ontjes represented the government. This case was accepted for federal prosecution as part of Project Safe Childhood.
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News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s webpage at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.
Former Fair Bluff Police Officer Sentenced to 15 Years for the Manufacturing of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that in federal court today DONALD BRIAN BEAUCHAINE, 40, of Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina, was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment followed by 15 years of supervised release by Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever, III, for one count of manufacturing child pornography.
BEAUCHAINE was previously employed as a police officer with the Fair Bluff, North Carolina Police Department. On June 4, 2014 he was caught secretly videotaping his girlfriend’s minor daughter in the bathroom. He admitted to videotaping the girl beginning in April 2014 until he was caught. A forensics examination of BEAUCHAINE’S cellphone and laptop contained 12,000 images of child pornography.
The criminal investigation of this case was conducted by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Lake Waccamaw Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Ethan A. Ontjes is handling the prosecution on behalf of the Eastern District of North Carolina.
This case was part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a national program aimed at ensuring that criminals exploiting children are effectively prosecuted by making full use of all available law enforcement resources at every level. For more information about this important national project, Project Safe Childhood, go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.
Dog Fighting Investigation Leads to Federal Dogfighting, Marijuana Grow & Firearms Charges PleaRead the Press Release
ELIZABETH CITY – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that in federal court today, ZHAQWAUN JEVONTAE GARY, 22, pled guilty to Possession of an animal for the purpose of participation in a fighting venture and aiding and abetting. On April 5, 2016 his father, ELTON GARY, 47, pled guilty to exhibiting and sponsoring an animal for the purpose of participation in a fighting venture and aiding and abetting in the same; attending an animal fighting venture and aiding and abetting in the same; possession of an animal for the purpose of participation in a fighting venture and aiding and abetting in the same; possession of firearm and ammunition by a felon; possession with intent to distribute more than 50 but less than 100 marijuana plants and aiding and abetting; and maintaining drug-involved premises and aiding and abetting. On April 21, 2016 his mother, ERICA POWELL GARY, 44, pled guilty to possession of an animal for the purpose of participation in a fighting venture and aiding and abetting, and possession of firearm by a felon.
On April 7, 2013 the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint that ERICA GARY was conducting dog fighting operations at her residence in Halifax County. When deputies arrived at the home, no dog fighting in progress was observed on the property, but blood samples were obtained from an area that appeared to have had recent dog fighting and multiple animals were seized. In the shed, deputies located a steel bucket with bloody water, and what appeared to be a ring for dog fighting. A carpet with blood was found and there were splatters on the walls. The dogs were in a wooden fenced in area and there was blood at the bottom of the fence.
Several pit bulls were chained up within the fence. A Halifax Animal Control, was called out and gave his opinion that this was a dog fighting ring based on his review of the shed set up and appearance. Deputies located approximately 17 dogs (pit bulls) and they all had wounds and scars consistent with dog fighting. While looking for evidence of dog fighting, deputies located marijuana plants growing in a shed on the property. Deputies obtained a search warrant based on the discovery. There were approximately 68 plants, a grow light, seeds, timers, heaters, etc. in support of the growing operation. A search warrant was also executed at the home of Erica Gary and two firearms were located in the closet of the bedroom shared by Erica and Elton Gary.
At sentencing ELTON and ERICA GARY face in excess of 10 years imprisonment. ZHAQWAUN JEVONTAE GARY faces up to 5 years imprisonment. A sentencing date for these three defendants has not been set by the court.
The criminal investigation of this case was conducted by Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, Halifax County Animal Control, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney S. Katherine Burnette is handling the case on behalf of the government.
Raleigh men sentenced for conspiracy to provide material support to terroristRead the Press Release
NEW BERN – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that today in federal court, United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced AVIN MARSALIS BROWN, 23, of Raleigh and AKBA JIHAD JORDAN, 23, also of Raleigh. BROWN was sentenced to 92 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and JORDAN was sentenced to 108 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
BROWN and JORDAN were arrested and charged in a criminal complaint on March 19, 2014. A Grand Jury Indictment was filed on April 1, 2014, charging them with conspiracy to provide material support for terrorism. BROWN pled guilty to the charge on August 12, 2014, and JORDAN pled guilty on October 16, 2014.
Beginning in 2013, BROWN and JORDAN had numerous conversations in which they discussed their desire to travel to either Syria or Yemen to engage in violent jihad and fight the “kuffar” (non-Muslims).
JORDAN emphasized the need to be physically fit and to train with firearms so they could fight overseas. JORDAN discussed the weapons that he had in his possession, including an AK-47, and how to use those weapons in fighting the kuffar. To this end, JORDAN conducted physical training and firearm and tactics training with BROWN.
BROWN and JORDAN also discussed the need to obtain passports to travel overseas for purposes of violent jihad. JORDAN commented on several occasions that he wanted to go to Syria because he believed the caliphate may start there and he wanted to be a part of that. BROWN stated he would like to go to Syria or Yemen.
In December of 2013, in a meeting at JORDAN's apartment, JORDAN brought out an AK-47 and a vest which contained several loaded magazines. He additionally displayed a Mini l4 assault rifle, more ammunition, and a sword. JORDAN showed BROWN how to break down the AK-47 and explained the capabilities of the weapons.
Throughout early 2014, BROWN and JORDAN continued discussing fighting in overseas locations and the best routes of travel to those locations which most frequently included Syria and Yemen. In January of 2014, BROWN stated that he had received his United States passport. JORDAN stated he was still trying to secure the funds for his passport, and he scheduled an appointment at a local United States Post Office for March 21, 2014.
In February of 2014, BROWN and JORDAN discussed how using the cover of a charity would make it easier to get into Syria. They also discussed persons who have been arrested traveling overseas to fight and talked about countermeasures to defeat criminal charges.
On March 19, 2014, BROWN traveled to Raleigh Durham International Airport and was arrested without incident. Upon being arrested, BROWN gave a statement acknowledging that he had purchased a ticket to fly to Istanbul, Turkey, with the intention of traveling to Syria to fight. On March 19, 2014, agents also arrested Jordan in Raleigh, N.C.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the FBI’s Raleigh-Durham Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes participation by the following agencies: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigation, Raleigh Police Department, Durham Police Department, Cary Police Department, NC State Bureau of Investigation, and the NC State Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys Eric D. Goulian and Jason M. Kellhofer prosecuted the case for the government.
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News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s webpage at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.
Jacksonville-Onslow County Focused Deterrence Call-InRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office has announced that yesterday Jacksonville-Onslow County hosted its first Focused Deterrence Call-In event. A focused deterrence notification (call-in) is a systematic and thorough problem identification strategy to deter violence, gun and drug crimes. A comprehensive and strategic focused deterrence plan is created by local and federal law enforcement partners to target chronic and repeat offenders. Once notified, offenders are provided a unified message that they have been targeted and will be sanctioned if they continue to commit criminal acts. Community members and resource providers participate and augment the aggressive law enforcement approach by providing participants with support services and resources including housing, vocational and employment services, educational services, and substance abuse programming.
Each offender was provided a resource handbook identifying various local resource providers and their contact information. At the conclusion of the event, offenders were greeted by representatives from seven local agencies that provide supportive services and resources to former offenders. In addition to the resource providers, there were also faith based leaders, community leaders, state and federal probation officers, state and federal prosecutors, local law enforcement and federal agents in attendance to offer their support and encouragement to the offenders.
Yesterday’s Jacksonville-Onslow County Focused Deterrence Call-In was hosted by the Jacksonville Police Department and the Onslow-Jones County Reentry Council. The Focused Deterrence Call-In was a joint partnership between the Jacksonville Police Department, Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, North Carolina Department of Public Safety, District Attorney’s Office in Judicial District 4, United States Probation, Tri-County Crusaders Reentry Program, and the United States Attorney’s Office.
Former Onslow County Sheriff’s Deputy Sentenced to 78 Months for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that in federal court today, Senior United States District Judge James C. Fox sentenced JON JAMES THOMAS, 46, of Jacksonville, North Carolina, to 78 months imprisonment, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. The Court also ordered THOMAS to register as a sex offender.
THOMAS was named in an Indictment filed on October 15, 2015. On January 4, 2016, THOMAS pled guilty to one count of Receipt of Child Pornography.
In May 2015, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation in Raleigh, initiated an online investigation related to the distribution and receipt of child pornography (CP) through the Gnutella network, a peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing network. Agents identified and captured the Internet
Protocol address (IP address) of a host computer offering to distribute multiple images of CP. As the investigation continued, agents made a direct connection to the identified host computer between May 11, 2015, and May 13, 2015, and downloaded 12 files depicting CP. A subpoena was issued to an internet service provider to identify the subscriber assigned to the captured IP address. The subscriber identified was THOMAS of Jacksonville, North Carolina. Further investigation identified THOMAS as a deputy with the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office in Jacksonville.
Based on the investigation, a search warrant was obtained and executed on THOMAS’ residence on May 13, 2015. Agents located and seized two computers at which time the defendant provided an unprotected statement to authorities. Specifically, THOMAS acknowledged searching for files containing CP through the use of a P2P program. Lastly, THOMAS indicated that a “couple of hundred” files, both images and videos, were stored on his computer.
Forensic examination of the defendant’s computer revealed at least 600 images and 1,040 videos which depicted CP. Furthermore, forensics recovered 112 deleted images from the defendant’s computer.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations (SBI). Assistant United States Attorney Ethan Ontjes represented the government.
This case was part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a national program aimed at ensuring that criminals exploiting children are effectively prosecuted by making full use of all available law enforcement resources at every level. For more information about this important national project, Project Safe Childhood, go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Federal Jury Finds Wilmington Man Guilty of Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin and Two Counts of Distribution of HeroinRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced today that a federal jury in Raleigh found TARCARLOS ANTIGO MILLER guilty of one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin and two counts of Distribution of Heroin.
MILLER was named in a Superseding Indictment filed on October 8, 2015. Evidence presented at trial proved that MILLER sold heroin to a confidential informant (CI) on November 6, 2014 and again on January 26, 2015. Additionally, a witness testified MILLER supplied him with heroin to sell and asked him to store MILLER’S firearms. Officers executed a search warrant at the witness’ residence and found approximately 34 grams of raw heroin and five firearms. The witness testified he purchased the heroin from MILLER.
On April 22, 2015, the Wilmington Police Department searched a silver Infiniti which had been repossessed and found drug packaging materials. This silver Infiniti turned out to be the same silver Infiniti that MILLER was driving during the November 6, 2014 controlled buy. On May 6, 2015, officers observed Miller make hand to hand transactions which were consistent with drug sales in a vehicle. Upon MILLER’S arrest, they located on his person $3,384.36. A search warrant was later executed at a residence associated with the defendant and officers located an additional $6,283. MILLER was interviewed after waiving his Miranda rights. MILLER was told that law enforcement had him on video selling heroin; he responded by saying “that may be, but I’m not as big a deal as everyone makes me out to be.”
At sentencing, MILLER faces a up to 20 years imprisonment for the Conspiracy Charge and 20 years each for the two Distribution Charges.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Wilmington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Lawrence Cameron prosecuted the case for the government.
Jacksonville Man Sentenced to 24 Years for Manufacturing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that in federal court yesterday, United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced Melvin Dean smith, 45, of Jacksonville, North Carolina, to 290 months imprisonment, followed by twenty years of supervised release. The Court also ordered SMITH register as a sex offender.
smith was named in an Indictment filed on July 7, 2015. On September 4, 2015, SMITH pled guilty to one count of Manufacturing Child Pornography.
In 2012, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Wilmington initiated an online investigation related to the distribution of child pornography through photo sharing websites. The investigation revealed a moniker that was later identified as belonging to SMITH.
On February 19, 2014, agents received information from a online foreign undercover agent who had received three images of child pornography labeled “new and homemade” from SMITH’s moniker.
On October 2, 2014, agents executed a federal search warrant at SMITH’S residence in Jacksonville. Based on the investigation, SMITH manufactured child pornography on one occasion by producing at least 13 images of a nude 2-3 year old female while acting as her babysitter. On Septebmer 25, 2015, SMITH provided a written statement in which he apologized and accepted responsibility for his actions related to the instant offense.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations (SBI), the Jacksonville Police Department and the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Ethan Ontjes represented the government.
This case was part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a national program aimed at ensuring that criminals exploiting children are effectively prosecuted by making full use of all available law enforcement resources at every level. For more information about this important national project, Project Safe Childhood, go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Melton Found Guilty in Kidnapping Case of Wake Forest ManRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that today, KELVIN MELTON, a/k/a Dizzy, Old Man, 51, was found guilty in a jury trial of Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping, Attempted Kidnapping and Aiding and Abetting, Kidnapping and Aiding and Abetting, and Using, Carrying, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to, and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of, a Kidnapping and Aiding and Abetting.
Frank Janssen was taken from his home against his will on April 5, 2014. One Eight Trey Blood member MELTON, used a cell phone that he illegally possessed while serving a life sentence in North Carolina’s Polk Correctional Institution in Butner, North Carolina, to transmit instructions to co-conspirators in the plot who then sent threats to Janssen’s wife. Specifically, MELTON gave instructions on how to kill Mr. Janssen, dispose of his body and sanitize the crime scene.
Through a coordinated effort involving many federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team rescued Mr. Janssen at 11:55 pm on April 9, 2014 at a residence in Southeast Atlanta.
Acting United States Attorney John Stuart Bruce stated, “This crime was monstrously cruel to the victim and his family, including a dedicated public servant who was being targeted for her public service. It was also an attack on our criminal justice system. We must do more to stop convicted prisoners from reaching out from their prison cells to harm witnesses and law enforcement officials, and to continue their criminal enterprises. The convictions in this case are a start.”
“The evidence at trial showed Kelvin Melton to be a violent and ruthless individual who used his gang affiliations to commit a heinous crime against an innocent man. Due to the incredible cooperation and coordination between the FBI and both our federal and local law enforcement partners, Melton will never again be able to reach beyond the prison bars to do others harm,” said John Strong, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina.
At sentencing, MELTON faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the FBI Charlotte, FBI Atlanta, the Wake Forest Police Department, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation with assistance by the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, Raleigh Police Department, Durham Police Department, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, Garner Police Department, North Carolina Highway Patrol, RDU Police, City County Bureau of Investigation, the Cobb County Police Department, Alpharetta Police Department, Atlanta Police Department, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina is handling the prosecution of these cases.
Smithfield Man Sentenced to 84 Months for Narcotics and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that today in federal court, Senior United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard sentenced TERRELL RICKY SETTLES, 23, of Smithfield to 84 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
SETTLES was named in an Indictment filed on December 15, 2015, charging him with Possession with Intent to Distribute a Quantity of a Mixture Containing Methamphetamine and Heroin and Aiding and Abetting; Maintaining a Place for the Purpose of Manufacturing, Storing, Distributing, and Using Methamphetamine and Aiding and Abetting; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime and Aiding and Abetting. On February 8, 2016, SETTLES pled guilty to these charges.
In June 2015, officers with the Smithfield Police Department, received several complaints from concerned citizens regarding possible drug activity at a residence on Boyette Circle. Detectives also received information from at least two confidential informants which indicated SETTLES was involved in the distribution of narcotics in the Smithfield area. Detectives conducted surveillance and a “trash pull” at the residence on Boyette Circle. On July 17, 2015, officers executed a search warrant at the residence. SETTLES, and two co-defendants were present at the time of the execution of the search warrant. During a search of the residence, detectives located two loaded 9mm pistols in SETTLE’S bedroom; over two hundred grams of methamphetamine; 51 bindles (1.05 grams of heroin1); 2.5 grams of marijuana; approximately 200 rounds of 9mm ammunition; $7,528; and drug packaging materials.
SETTLES is responsible for the distribution of 272.86 grams of methamphetamine and 1.05 grams of heroin. SETTLES also possessed a firearm and maintained a residence for the purpose of distributing narcotics during the commission of these crimes.
This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Smithfield Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney S. Katherine Burnette prosecuted the case for the government.
Halifax County Man Sentenced for Cocaine and Marijuana ConspiracyRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that in federal court today, Senior United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard, sentenced STERLING DELAND MOODY, 47, of Weldon, North Carolina, to 72 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 kilograms or more of marijuana. MOODY previously pled guilty to this charge on August 10, 2015.
On September 10, 2014, DEA arrested MOODY near Weldon, N.C., after MOODY met with an informant to purchase two kilograms of cocaine for $36,000 per kilogram. MOODY told the informant that he had enough money nearby to purchase two additional kilograms of cocaine. Upon MOODY’S arrest, investigators seized $68,000 from MOODY’S vehicle. Investigators also seized $71,867 and two handguns from MOODY’S residence. The investigation, revealed that MOODY was responsible for distributing 158 kilograms of cocaine and 90 kilograms of marijuana.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office. The federal prosecution was handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney Glenn Perry. Mr. Perry is a prosecutor with the Pitt County District Attorney’s Office. Pitt County District Attorney Kimberly Robb has assigned Mr. Perry to the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force criminal matters. Mr. Perry’s assignment to the United States Attorney’s Office has been made possible by grants funded by the Governor’s Crime Commission.
Frank Carter Arrested in Illegal Video Gambling Device OperationRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announces that FRANK TALMADGE CARTER, 56, was arrested on June 8, 2016.
On Tuesday, May 25, 2016, a federal grand jury in Raleigh returned a 2 count Indictment against Carter.
The Indictment charges Carter with Conspiracy to Conduct an Illegal Gambling Business, 18 U.S.C. § 371 (Count 1) and Conducting an Illegal Gambling Business, 18 U.S.C. § 1955 (Count 2).
If convicted of counts 1 and 2 (Conspiracy and Conducting an Unlawful Gambling Business), CARTER faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 5 years for each count and a maximum fine of $250,000 for each count or twice gross gain, whichever is greater. CARTER was a resident of Cumberland County at the time of the offenses charged.
Cumberland County Sheriff Earl R. “Moose” Butler stated: “The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office has always and will continue to strive to work in conjunction with local, state, and federal agencies to enforce the gambling laws of State of North Carolina and the United States.”
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Department of Homeland Security.
Federal Jury Finds Fayetteville Man Guilty of Three Violent Hobbs Act Robberies and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
ELIZABETH CITY – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that a federal jury in Elizabeth City found SMITH MERINORD guilty of three counts of Hobbs Act Robberies and for the use and carrying a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and the firearm was brandished.
MERINORD and a co-defendant were named in an Indictment filed on April 29, 2015. MERINORD entered the Advance Auto Parts Store on Owen Drive in Fayetteville on November 2, 2013 armed with a small Uzi. He threatened the employees with the firearm during the robbery and raped and sexually assaulted a female employee before fleeing with cash. Later that day, MERINORD and a co-defendant robbed another Advanced Auto on Roberts Avenue in Lumberton. MERINORD again threatened store employees with the Uzi and fled with cash. On November 16, 2013, MERINORD and an accomplice entered the Red Lobster located on McPherson Church Road in Fayetteville and held the manager at gunpoint and stole cash before fleeing. Off duty officers and other law enforcement apprehended MERINORD and his accomplice in the CarMax parking lot located near the Red Lobster. MERINORD had a small Uzi in his waistband.
At sentencing, MERINORD faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 57 years to life imprisonment on the gun counts and up to 60 years on the Hobbs Act Robbery Counts.
This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Fayetteville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorneys Frank Bradsher and Peggah Wilson represented the government.
Dunn Man Sentenced to 77 Months for Being A Felon in Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that today in federal court, Senior United States District Judge W. Earl Britt sentenced TAUREAN RAHSAAN DAVIS, 27, of Dunn to 77 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
DAVIS was named in an Indictment filed on June 10, 2014, charging him with being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. On November 3, 2014, DAVIS pled guilty to the charge.
On February 27, 2014, an officer with the Dunn Police Department, conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by DAVIS. The officer approached the passenger side of the vehicle and observed a box of bullets under DAVIS’ leg. The officer recognized DAVIS as a felon. DAVIS indicated that there was a jar of marijuana under the driver’s seat of the vehicle. The officer seized a jar containing 36 baggies of marijuana (29.99 grams of marijuana) and a .22 caliber pistol loaded with 6 rounds of ammunition adjacent to the marijuana from under the driver’s seat, as well as a box of ammunition and a digital scale.
This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Dunn Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney S. Katherine Burnette prosecuted the case for the government.
Federal Jury Finds Fayetteville Man Guilty of Three Violent Hobbs Act Robberies and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
ELIZABETH CITY – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that a federal jury in Elizabeth City found SMITH MERINORD guilty of three counts of Hobbs Act Robberies and for the use and carrying a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and the firearm was brandished.
MERINORD and a co-defendant were named in an Indictment filed on April 29, 2015. MERINORD entered the Advance Auto Parts Store on Owen Drive in Fayetteville on November 2, 2013 armed with a small Uzi. He threatened the employees with the firearm during the robbery and raped and sexually assaulted a female employee before fleeing with cash. Later that day, MERINORD and a co-defendant robbed another Advanced Auto on Roberts Avenue in Lumberton. MERINORD again threatened store employees with the Uzi and fled with cash. On November 16, 2013, MERINORD and an accomplice entered the Red Lobster located on McPherson Church Road in Fayetteville and held the manager at gunpoint and stole cash before fleeing. Off duty officers and other law enforcement apprehended MERINORD and his accomplice in the CarMax parking lot located near the Red Lobster. MERINORD had a small Uzi in his waistband.
At sentencing, MERINOLD faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 57 years to life imprisonment on the gun counts and up to 60 years on the Hobbs Act Robbery Counts.
This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Fayetteville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorneys Frank Bradsher and Peggah Wilson represented the government.
Clayton Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that in federal court, Senior United States District Judge James C. Fox sentenced jason william wheelEr, 37, of Clayton, North Carolina, to 180 months imprisonment, followed by a five years of supervised release.
WHEELER was named in a Criminal Information filed on December 15, 2015. On January 25, 2016, WHEELER pled guilty to one count of Receipt of Child Pornography.
In July 2014, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a federal search warrant at a residence in Florida, for distribution and possession of child pornography. The investigation revealed that the owner sent numerous emails containing sexually explicit photographs and videos to WHEELER, in Clayton.
On October 2, 2014, agents executed a federal search warrant at WHEELER’S residence in Clayton. Based on the investigation, WHEELER used multiple computers to send and receive a collection of Child Pornography (CP) comprised of at least 82 images and 61 videos. The defendant’s collection contained material that depicted children involved in sexual bondage or sexual sadomasochistic acts. On April 4, 2015, WHEELER provided a written statement accepting responsibility for his actions in regards to this offense.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations (SBI), and the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Ethan Ontjes represented the government.
This case was part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a national program aimed at ensuring that criminals exploiting children are effectively prosecuted by making full use of all available law enforcement resources at every level. For more information about this important national project, Project Safe Childhood, go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Photo taken during Attorney General Lynch’s visit to Fayetteville on May 24, 2016Read the Press Release
Photo taken during Attorney General Lynch’s visit to Fayetteville on May 24, 2016