Blood Gang Member Sentenced to 12 Years for Illegally Possessing a Firearm and Narcotics

RALEIGH – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that today in federal court, Chief United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced DENNIS STEWARD MOORE, 43, of Raleigh, NC, to 144 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release.

MOORE was named in an Indictment filed on May 22, 2019 charging him with Distribution of a Quantity of Cocaine Base (crack), Possession with Intent to Distribute a Quantity of Cocaine Base (crack), Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime on November 1, 2018.  On October 17, 2019, with a written plea agreement, MOORE pled guilty to distribution of crack, possession with intent to distribute crack, and possession of a firearm by a felon. 

On August 21, 2018, the Raleigh Police Department (RPD), in Raleigh, North Carolina, conducted a controlled purchase of cocaine base (crack) from MOORE based on information from a confidential source (CS) indicating MOORE was distributing crack.  MOORE sold 0.12 gram of crack to the CS from his room at the Wake Inn located on New Bern Avenue in Raleigh.

On November 1, 2018, RPD went to MOORE’s room at the Wake Inn and arrested him based on a warrant to arrest. Incident to his arrest, MOORE was searched and RPD seized $1,051 in U.S. currency, 3.04 grams of cocaine base (crack), and 11.86 grams of cocaine. The RPD also recovered a loaded .22 caliber pistol, drug-packaging material, and a digital scale with drug residue.  MOORE was arrested by the RPD.

MOORE admitted to RPD officers that he has sold cocaine base (crack) since 1988, and approximated that he sold 2 ounces (56.7 grams) of cocaine base (crack) per week.  Furthermore, MOORE admitted the firearm found in his room belonged to him and that he had recently purchased it.   

This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.  For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian. 

This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina implements the PSN Program through its Take Back North Carolina Initiative.  This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Raleigh Police Department (RPD) conducted the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Daniel William Smith represented the government.

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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.