Rocky Mount Man Sentenced For Drug Trafficking

RALEIGH – United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that on Friday, October 23, 2015 in federal court, Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever III sentenced Benjamine fitzgerald ransome, 42, of Rocky Mount, North Carolina to 45 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release.

ransome was named in an Indictment filed on March 3, 2015 charging him with distribution of a quantity of cocaine base (crack); possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possession of a firearm by a felon.  On July 13, 2015, Ransome pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine.

According to the investigation, RANSOME distributed marijuana, cocaine, and cocaine base (crack) in Rocky Mount, North Carolina from 2012, until April 24, 2014.  Law enforcement utilized a confidential informant to conduct controlled purchases of narcotics from RANSOME at B&R Auto Sales in Rocky Mount, North Carolina where RANSOME worked as a car salesman.  Law enforcement executed a search warrant at B&R Auto Sales where they seized marijuana, a shotgun, and drug paraphernalia.  A search warrant was also executed at RANSOME’s home, which uncovered cocaine, marijuana, a .38 caliber revolver, and drug paraphernalia.

The case was investigated by the Nash County Sheriff’s Office, Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Dena J. King represented the government.