GEORGE E. B. HOLDING

CONTACT: 919/856-4530

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

THURSDAY - October 25, 2007

ROCKY POINT MAN SENTENCED FOR DRUG DISTRIBUTION

RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E. B. Holding announced that in federal court today United States District Judge James C. Dever, III sentenced LARONE FREDRICK ELIJAH, 31, of Rocky Point, North Carolina, to 108 months’ imprisonment.

A Criminal one-count Indictment filed by the United States Attorney’s Office on January 24, 2007, charged ELIJAH with intent to distribute more than five grams of crack cocaine and quantities of cocaine, heroin, and a mixture of 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). ELIJAH pled guilty to the charge on May 14, 2007.

On June 9, 2006, during surveillance at a motel in Wilmington, North Carolina, local law enforcement witnessed ELIJAH take a white bag out of his room and place it behind the driver’s seat of a rental car. ELIJAH went back to his room and then returned to the car with a young child. The officer approached ELIJAH concerning two outstanding arrest warrants. During the conversation, ELIJAH asked to place the child in the car and proceeded to open the car door. When ELIJAH opened the door, the officer observed marijuana in the car. A second officer searched the car and found the white bag previously observed. The bag contained 8 grams of crack cocaine, 44 grams of cocaine, 2 grams of heroin and 10 grams of a mixture of MDA/MDMA.

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Wilmington Police Department. Special AUSA Timothy M. Severo prosecuted the case for the government.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.