Sampson County Members of Violent Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced

Operation Sugar Hill Gang defendants receive more than a century of time in federal prison.

RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that ANTONIO KEVIN MCKOY, 32, of Garland, NC, TONY CHEVALLIER, 40, of Clinton, NC, and JABARR RYEHEINE RUDOLPH, 39, of Clinton, NC were sentenced by United States District Judge James C. Dever, III.   MCKOY was sentenced to life of imprisonment plus 5 years, followed by 6 years of supervised release.   CHEVALLIER was sentenced to 360 months followed by 10 years of supervised release and RUDOLPH was sentenced to 240 months followed by 3 years of supervised release.

A federal 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 following additional individuals were charged in relation to the drug conspiracy as part of Operation Sugar Hill Gang Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation and their sentences are listed below:

• James Daniel McKoy of Garland, North Carolina – 210 months in prison
• Jafa McKoy of Clinton, North Carolina – 209 months in prison
• William Garner of Clinton, North Carolina – 144 months in prison
• Robert Parker of Clinton, North Carolina - 137 months in prison
• Donald Garner of Harrells, North Carolina -  120 months in prison
• Deames Henry of Garland, North Carolina – 120 months in prison
• Gregory Bright of Turkey, North Carolina – 115 months in prison
• Derrick Ingram of Clinton, North Carolina – 114 months in prison
• Brandon Smith of Wilmington, North Carolina – 108 months in prison
• Amanda Burch of Clinton, North Carolina – 96 months in prison
• David Williams of Harrells, North Carolina – 90 months in prison
• Earl Melvin of Clinton, North Carolina – 60 months in prison
• Darryl McKoy of Garland, North Carolina- 48 months in prison
• Derrell Wilson of Warsaw, North Carolina – 42 months in prison
• Andrekia Parker of Clinton, North Carolina – 30 months in prison
• Bryant Carr of Harrells, North Carolina – 27 months in prison
• Harry Oates of Wilmington, North Carolina – 21 months in prison
• Russell Bell of Clinton, North Carolina – 15 months in prison
• Bryan Carr – 12 months in prison
• Braylynn Spencer of Willington, North Carolina– 12 months in prison
• Craig Melvin of Raleigh, North Carolina – 12 months in prison
• Anthony Barnes of Garland, North Carolina – 11 months in prison
• Ryan Carr of Clinton, North Carolina – 36 months’ probation

The case is a federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) criminal matter that was 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, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, 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.