FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

WEDNESDAY - February 9, 2011

TWO FOUND GUILTY BY FEDERAL JURY OF DRUG CHARGES

RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court two co-defendants were convicted of drug charges. Yesterday, VINCENT ELOYD HILL, 27, of Wilmington, North Carolina, was found guilty of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin and a quantity of marijuana; possession with intent to distribute heroin; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin and marijuana. Co-defendant SHERESE LANELLE WILLIAMSON, 20, was also found guilty on February 8, 2011, of possession with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin and marijuana.

HILL and WILLIAMSON were convicted after a two-day jury trial held in federal court in Elizabeth City. Trial evidence showed that from March, 2009, to September, 2009, HILL frequently traveled to New Jersey to obtain, transport to, and distribute heroin in North Carolina. Particularly, the evidence showed that HILL distributed more than 400 grams of heroin in Wilmington, North Carolina. Additionally, the evidence showed that on March 17, 2009, a Leland police officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle registered to and driven by HILL. Officers found 10 bags of heroin, a loaded firearm, and $3,135. Further, on November 10, 2009, a trooper with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop on I-95 South in Johnston County, North Carolina, of a vehicle driven by WILLIAMSON and occupied by HILL. Troopers found inside of the vehicle an aftermarket secret compartment which contained 76 grams of heroin, packaged in 3,486 bags, a quantity of marijuana, and an ammunition clip.

HILL now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. WILLIAMSON faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment. Sentencing dates have not yet been set.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the Leland Police Department, and the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Sebastian Kielmanovich represented 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.