Eight Trey Crip Gang Member Convicted in Aborted Murder Plot Receives 8 Years in Prison

RALEIGH, N.C. – A Raleigh member of the Eight Trey Gangster Crips (“ETGC”), Rayquan Wiggins, 27, was sentenced yesterday to 96 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to commit murder which was aborted by law enforcement.  

“This case is part of an operation that led to over twenty indictments, taking down dangerous gang leaders and those who, like Wiggins, conspired to kill rivals,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley.  “We’ve forged a close partnership with Raleigh Police and the ATF to tackle violent crime, allowing for swift action by police to prevent yet another senseless murder.” 

“ATF is proud to have been part of this collaborative effort to impact the threat violent street gangs have on our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “When we can bring these individuals to justice, we better public safety throughout our neighborhoods.”

According to court documents and other information presented in court, an investigation identified a large drug-trafficking organization (DTO) which was distributing significant amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine, phencyclidine (PCP), 3,4-Methlyenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and marijuana in the Raleigh area. The conduct of the DTO was perpetrated by leaders, members, and associates of the ETGC.

Wiretap surveillance intercepted a conversation among members of the ETGC to kill a member of a rival gang that had tased high-level ETGC member Deandre Earp . At the direction of ETGC leader Dexter Maxwell, Wiggins provided information on when the target of the murder plot would be in a certain area in Raleigh so that other ETGC’s, Deandre Earp and Clinton Basco, could commit the murder. Agents took enforcement action to prevent the murder from occurring by having Earp and Basco stopped as they were traveling by car to go murder the rival gang member.  They were arrested before the murder could be committed. Maxwell, Basco and Earp have all previously pled guilty to charges related to the planned murder, as well as drug trafficking charges.  Earp was sentenced to 40 years . https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/pr/raleigh-eight-trey-crip-gangster-sentenced-40-years-prison-vicar-and-methamphetamine

Sentencing is pending for Maxwell and Basco.

This investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Raleigh Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly L. Sandling  prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:19-CR-00395-D.