FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

WEDNESDAY - May 4, 2011

PITT COUNTY DRUG DEALER SENTENCED

RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court yesterday United States District Judge James C. Dever III, sentenced SALEDIN ALI BLOUNT, 35, of Ayden, North Carolina, to 180 months’ imprisonment followed by five years’ supervised release. This sentence reflects an enhancement after the Court deemed BLOUNT a career offender.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on January 4, 2010. On April 6, 2010, BLOUNT pled guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack).

According to the investigation, following leads from information that was received, law enforcement arranged four controlled purchases from August 4, 2009, to October 3, 2009, in which BLOUNT sold varying amounts of crack cocaine. Based on information law enforcement received regarding BLOUNT’s activities from 2008 and including the controlled purchases, it is estimated that BLOUNT sold 2,930.12grams of crack cocaine. Investigation of this case was conducted by the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office. Special Assistant United States Attorney Glenn Perry was the assigned Prosecutor.Mr. Perry is a prosecutor with the Pitt County District Attorney’s Office.District Attorney Clark Everett has assigned him to the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force criminal matters.This has been made possible by a grant funded by the Governor’s Crime Commission.

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