Federal Jury Convicts Three Sampson County Members of a Violent Drug Trafficking Organization

RALEIGH – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that, ANTONIO KEVIN MCKOY, 31, of Garland, NC, TONY CHEVALLIER, 31, of Turkey, NC, and JABARR RYEHEINE RUDOLPH, 38, of Clinton, NC were convicted in Federal Court following a seven day jury trial before Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever, III.  The jury found all three men guilty of Conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute significant quantities of multiple controlled substances, including methamphetamine, heroin, crack cocaine and cocaine, and "Molly". Additional convictions were sustained for the distribution of various controlled substances and multiple firearm related charges.

The investigation giving rise to the charges faced at trial began in 2013. Multiple and extensive investigative techniques were utilized throughout this case.  The evidence presented at trial detailed a significant drug trafficking organization (“DTO”) that was built and lead by ANTONIO MCKOY. The DTO maintained contacts with individuals throughout the Southeastern United States who supplied the drugs sold primarily within Eastern North Carolina. In addition to trafficking drugs, the DTO maintained a sophisticated apparatus that was used to launder the proceeds derived from drug sales.  The evidence presented at trial showed a trucking company that MCKOY started in early 2016 was used to conceal the money collected in the drug business.

The case is a federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) criminal matter being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, U.S. Probation Office, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the North Carolina Departments of Revenue and Emergency Management.  Assistant United States Attorneys Brad Knott and Toby Lathan prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.