RALEIGH - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court today United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan, sentenced four defendants for their roles in drug conspiracies in eastern North Carolina.  WADDY NATHAN AGNEW, 41, of Ayden, North Carolina, received 135 months imprisonment followed by five years supervised release.  DANIEL EARL CLONINGER, 28, of New Bern, North Carolina, received 67 months imprisonment followed by five years supervised release.  AL JOSEPH WATSON, JR., 37 , of Kenly, North Carolina, received 60  months imprisonment followed by five years supervised release.  DEANDRE DEVON LANGLEY, 33, of Greenville, North Carolina, received 135 months imprisonment followed by three years supervised release. Additionally, CLONINGER was ordered to pay a fine of $3,500. These four defendants were targets of Operation No Quarter, a joint federal, state and local investigation focusing on drug trafficking organizations operating in Pitt, Pamlico, Craven and Lenoir Counties.

     On January 10, 2012, a Federal Grand Jury returned an Indictment charging WADDY NATHAN AGNEW with five violations of federal narcotics laws.  On March 14, 2012, AGNEW pled guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and a quantity of cocaine base (crack).

According to evidence presented in court, AGNEW conspired with Tobia Moye to distribute over 2 kilograms of cocaine between September 2009 and July 2011 in Pitt County.  Between June 10, 2010 and November 15, 2010, law enforcement arranged for three controlled purchases in which AGNEW sold a total of 20.24 grams of crack cocaine.  AGNEW’S sentence was enhanced due to his status as a career offender based on 4 prior felony convictions including armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.    

On December 13, 2011, a Federal Grand Jury returned an Indictment charging DANIEL EARL CLONINGER with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine.  On March 12, 2012, CLONINGER pled guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

According to evidence presented in court, CLONINGER conspired with Jorge Acosta-Muro to distribute approximately 177 kilograms of cocaine between September 2009 and July 2011 in Pamlico County.  CLONINGER’S main role was to drive Acosta-Muro to deliver cocaine  to Jessie Pearson and other dealers but he also assisted Acosta-Muro with repackaging cocaine and counting drug proceeds.   On July 3, 2011, law enforcement agents intercepted 14 kilograms of cocaine being delivered to Acosta-Muro by Renato Torres-Eguino.  On July 10, 2102, Acosta-Muro was sentenced to 270 months imprisonment and five years of supervised release and Torres-Eguino was sentenced to 236 months imprisonment and five years of supervised release.

On September 1, 2011, a Criminal Information was filed charging AL JOSEPH WATSON, JR. with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine.  On November 14, 2011, WATSON pled guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine.

According to the investigation, from September 2008 until December 2010, WATSON bought cocaine from coconspirator Eleazar Cortes Guerrero of Garner, North Carolina and delivered the cocaine to coconspirator Torrick Johntrelle Rodgers in Farmville, North Carolina. On April 4, 2012, Guerrero was sentenced to 70 months imprisonment and 4 years of supervised  release.  Rodgers’ sentencing hearing is pending.

On January 10, 2012, a Federal Grand Jury returned an Indictment charging DEANDRE DEVON LANGLEY with 9 counts of federal narcotics laws.  On March 12, 2012, LANGLEY pled guilty to distribution of a quantity of cocaine base (crack).

According to the investigation, LANGLEY conspired with others to distribute 74 grams of crack cocaine and 14 grams of marijuana.  Between July 2010 and September 2011, law enforcement arranged 6 controlled purchases of crack cocaine from LANGLEY.  LANGLEY’S sentence was enhanced due to his status as a career offender based on 8 prior felony convictions including breaking and entering and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.

Investigation of these cases were conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Greenville Police Department, the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office, the Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office, the Farmville Police Department, the Craven County Sheriff’s Office, the New Bern Police Department, the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina National Guard.  Special Assistant United States Attorney Glenn Perry was the assigned Prosecutor.  Mr. Perry is a prosecutor with the Pitt County District Attorney’s Office. District Attorney Clark Everett  has assigned him to the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force criminal matters. This has been made possible by a grant funded by the Governor’s Crime Commission.

 

 

Return to Top