Thirteen Kinston Residents Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Gun Sales

RALEIGH – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that in federal court, before Chief United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle, twelve men and one woman were sentenced for their roles in selling heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, and guns to undercover agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) in 2018. 

The investigation was part of OCDETF Operation Crosstown Traffic, which targeted violent gang members operating out of Kinston, North Carolina.  Operation Crosstown Traffic was created in response to the violent crime and gang problems that had been plaguing the area.  The 2016 Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) data from the FBI identified Kinston as the 3rd most dangerous city in North Carolina.  According to the City Rating, the 2016 Kinston city violent crime rate was 194% higher than the National violent crime rate and 175% higher than the crime rate in North Carolina.

Mr. Higdon commented:  “About 18 months ago, we stood with law enforcement in Kinston and dedicated ourselves to taking that community back from  the violent criminals and drug traffickers who were terrorizing the community.  Working with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners we have made important progress in removing drug traffickers, violent criminals and those illegally carrying guns from the community.  Our work is not yet done, but these sentences and the removal of these defendants from the community are an important next step.”

“Today’s sentencing is the culmination of a focused initiative designed to remove the most dangerous individuals from our neighborhoods,” stated Vincent Pallozzi, ATF Charlotte Field Division’s Special Agent in Charge. “These collaborative efforts with our local, state and federal partners have a major role in breaking up violent criminal groups.”

An Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.

As part of the investigation, law enforcement conducted dozens of controlled purchases of heroin, cocaine, and various firearms from local gang members and individuals operating under their direction.  During the course of the operation, which took place between January 2018 and January 2019, 100 firearms (12 reported stolen), 254 grams of heroin, 296 grams of cocaine, and 92 grams of crack cocaine were seized by ATF.

On January 9, 10, and 11, 2019, ATF arrested 34 federal defendants and 22 were also arrested on state charges.  During the roundup, 14 firearms, 50 grams of MDMA, 14 grams of heroin, and $5,690.00 US Currency were seized.  Suspect interviews resulted in the arrest and/or solving of 3 homicides and 5 shootings in the Kinston area.

The defendants who have been sentenced thus far include:

• JAQUAL MONTIE KOONCE, aka “Little Haiti,” 22, of Kinston, NC.  KOONCE was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin, distribution of a quantity of heroin, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  KOONCE was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment.
• NAHSON JAHKEEM SUGGS, aka “Nas,” 23, of Kinston, NC.  SUGGS was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin, four counts of distribution of a quantity of heroin and aiding and abetting, one count of distribution of a quantity of heroin and methoxyacetal fentanyl, two counts of distribution of a quantity of heroin, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  SUGGS was sentenced to 123 months’ imprisonment.
• DWAYNE LEONZO HERRING, 31, of Kinston, NC.  HERRING was convicted of aiding and abetting distribution of a quantity of cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.    HERRING was sentenced to 90 months’ imprisonment.
• JARRETT JEROME JOHNSON, aka “JJ”, 21, of Kinston, NC.  JOHNSON was convicted of distribution of a quantity of heroin and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  JOHNSON was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment.
• TYRICCO MARIO PITTS, 28, of Kinston, NC.  PITTS was convicted of distribution of a quantity of cocaine and possession of a firearm by a felon.  PITTS was sentenced to 40 months’ imprisonment.
• DEANDRE MURRELL, aka “Man,” 25, of Kinston, NC.  MURRELL was convicted of aiding and abetting distribution of a quantity of heroin and fentanyl, and possession of a firearm by a felon.  MURRELL was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment.
• QUREN SHAIKEEM MEWBORN, aka “Buddha,” 24, of Kinston, NC.  MEWBORN was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin, aiding and abetting distribution of a quantity of cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  MEWBORN was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment.
• KHADAFI KAMEEK-MONTR BARNES, aka “Nookie,” 18, of Kinston, NC. BARNES was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin, aiding and abetting distribution of a quantity of heroin, and aiding and abetting distribution of a quantity of cocaine.  BARNES was sentenced to 22 months’ imprisonment.
• DESHAKEEM TYSHEIK TURNAGE, aka “Trouble,” 26, of Kinston, NC.  TURNAGE was convicted of felon in possession of a firearm.  TURNAGE was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment.
• ARVENTIONO NYREKI LAWSON, 22, of Kinston, NC.  LAWSON was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin and aiding and abetting distribution of a quantity of heroin.  LAWSON was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment.
• JAYQUON MARQUIS NOBLES, aka “Chop,” 22, of Kinston, NC.  NOBLES was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin, aiding and abetting distribution of a quantity of heroin, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  NOBLES was sentenced to 78 months’ imprisonment.
• COREY MILLS, 24, of Kinston, NC.   MILLS was convicted of possession of a sawed-off shotgun.  MILLS was sentenced to 5 years’ probation.
• INDIA AYESHA WILKERSON, aka “Esha,” 21 of Kinston, NC.  WILKERSON was convicted of distribution of a quantity of codeine and aiding and abetting.  WILKERSON was sentenced to 3 years’ probation.

This case is part of the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.  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.  For more information about this initiative click here:  https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/tbnc.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), Kinston Police Department, Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office, Goldsboro Police Department, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Laura S. Howard prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.