FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MONDAY - April 19, 2010

SENTENCE OF NEW BERN MAN TO 84 MONTHS IMPRISONMENT
MARKS COMPLETION OF OPERATION “FRESH START”

GREENVILLE - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court on April 14, 2010, ANTWIONE DEVON CARR, 28, of New Bern, North Carolina, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard. On September 11, 2009, CARR pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack) and 500 grams of cocaine powder between May 2005 and December 2007.

This case was part of Operation Fresh Start, an investigation conducted by the New Bern Police Department targeting a drug trafficking organization operating in and around New Bern, North Carolina. The investigation, which began in late 2006, led to the federal prosecution of 10 drug traffickers from New Bern, North Carolina, who were responsible for the distribution of more than 65,000 grams of crack cocaine in the New Bern area.

The following drug traffickers were sentenced to following terms of imprisonment as part of this investigation:

Benjamin Jesteen Johnson, also known as “BJ” (273 months)

Mushulla Saleem Nixon (277 months)

Martrey Antione Newby (425 months)

Eone Bossi Garry (170 months)

Theron Jermaine Thompson also known as “Freak” (320 months)

Kevin Myell Slade (365 months)

Sophia Ellison (63 months)

Angelo Newkirk (130 months)

Carlos Green, also known as “Fat Carlos” (120 months)

Antione Carr, also known as “Biggie” (84 months)

According to the investigation, members of the drug trafficking organization traveled to other states to obtain large quantities of cocaine powder, which was transported back to the New Bern area, and then distributed. In many instances, the cocaine was cooked into crack cocaine. During the investigation, law enforcement seized more than one kilogram of cocaine powder, approximately 480 grams of crack cocaine, $42,271.49 in U.S. Currency, and numerous automobiles and motorcycles that were proceeds of, and used to facilitate, the drug trafficking.

Also, as part of this investigation, two other New Bern men, Joseph Moseley, Jr. and Anthony Caldwell, also known as “Cash”, were convicted in federal court and sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment for retaliating against a witness who testified in the trial against Martrey Newby.

In response to this case, Mr. Holding stated, “Operation Fresh Start was a tremendously successful investigation that has led to the dismantling of a network of drug dealers in New Bern, North Carolina. There is more work to be done, but the hard work of the men and women in New Bern Police Department Narcotics Unit is to be commended. We are thankful for the dedication of these officers in making our community and district a better place.”

Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Royster served as the prosecutor for the government.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.