Violent Fayetteville Pimp and Drug Dealer Sentenced to More Than 32 Years in Prison for Kidnapping, Drug and Gun Offenses

WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Fayetteville man was sentenced today to 390 months in prison for charges associated with kidnapping and possession of illegal substances and firearms between 2018 and 2019. On May 3, 2022, Yomere Juan Busbee, 38, also known as “Ram,” pled guilty to the charge of possession with the intent to distribute several drugs and was later found guilty on September 2, 2022, following a three-day jury trial, of multiple charges involving kidnapping, a drug conspiracy, and firearms.

“The defendant drove violence and exploitation in the Fayetteville community,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Busbee led a prostitution and drug ring using physical violence, threats, or drugs to cause women to engage in commercial sex and keep all their profits. He will now spend the next 32 years in prison.”

"It is heartbreaking to know the violence the victims suffered at the hands of Yomere Juan Busbee. We hope this federal prison sentence provides some sense of comfort. The FBI is committed to holding offenders accountable for the violent crimes they commit," said Special Agent in Charge Robert M. DeWitt.   

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Busbee and two co-defendants, James Calvin McEachern, Jr. and Merianda Gray held three adult victims, along with a two-year-old child, against their will in a motel room in December of 2018 after Busbee accused the victims of stealing several hundred dollars from him. At the time, Busbee was a convicted felon engaged in dealing drugs and prostituting women, assisted by McEachern. The victims were physically and/or sexually assaulted throughout the several-hour incident during which they also witnessed Busbee brandish a firearm and McEachern brandish a taser to coerce the cooperation of the victims. One of the victims was eventually able to get a message to a family member who called 911. Upon learning that Fayetteville Police Officers were responding to the incident, Busbee and McEachern fled the motel.

Weeks later, in January of 2019, Fayetteville Police Department detectives investigating the kidnapping apprehended Busbee at another Fayetteville motel. A search of the motel room and Busbee’s vehicle revealed two handguns (one of which was stolen) and large amounts of heroin, cocaine, and crack. Gray previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and was sentenced to 90 months custody, five years of supervised release, and $2,000 in restitution. McEachern also pled guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and was sentenced today to 108 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for his role in the kidnapping.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fayetteville Police Department investigated the case and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Blondel and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan M. Stephany prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-cr-00393-M.