Greenville Gang Members Sentenced for Drug Distribution

RALEIGH—United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court today, Senior United States District Judge W. Earl Britt sentenced four gang members for their participation in an illegal drug distribution conspiracy. TYREE BARKSDALE, 24, received 60 months’ imprisonment followed by five years’ supervised release. KEYONTA LANGLEY, 23, received 27 months’ imprisonment followed by three years’ supervised release, and restitution of $260 was ordered. STEVEN WOOTEN, 24, received 37 months’ imprisonment followed by three years’ supervised release, and a fine of $2,300 was imposed. Finally, ANTONIO DEMETRIUS BELL, 27, received 57 months’ imprisonment followed by three years' supervised release, and restitution of $1,452 was imposed. All four defendants are from Greenville, North Carolina.

“The sentences, which were at the high end of the guideline range, will serve as a deterrent. This case demonstrates how local and federal authorities work together to clean up this area of Greenville that has become ridden with crime,” stated Mr. Holding.

A federal grand jury returned four separate criminal indictments on August 11, 2010, charging each of the defendants. On December 6, 2010, BARKSDALE pled guilty to conspiring to distribute and possession with intent to distribute more than five grams of cocaine base (crack) and a quantity of cocaine and aiding and abetting the distribution of more than five grams of cocaine base (crack). On October 6, 2010, WOOTEN pled guilty to five counts of distribution of a quantity of cocaine (crack) and one count of aiding and abetting the distribution of a quantity of cocaine base (crack). On January 4, 2011, BELL and LANGLEY pled guilty; BELL to one count of distribution of a quantity of cocaine base (crack) and LANGLEY to one count of aiding and abetting the distribution of a quantity of cocaine base (crack).

“Gangs look for smaller communities to build their criminal networks because they think they can operate under the radar—that does not hold true in Greenville. The Greenville Police Department and the FBI worked together diligently to dismantle the West 5th Street Boys’ hierarchy. The sentences these gang members received in federal court should serve as a message to others in the community who think to replace the leadership; we won’t give up our pursuit,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Mark A. Morgan, head of the FBI in North Carolina.

William Anderson, Chief of Police for the Greenville Police Department stated, “I am pleased with the collaborative efforts of local and federal agencies during these cases. The ability to prosecute such cases at the federal level allows for stronger sentences. We look forward to working with them in the future.”

This case resulted from a joint Federal Bureau of Investigation/Greenville Police Department operation targeting gang related drug trafficking in West Greenville.

Two other defendants in the operation are awaiting trial. They are Charles Lindberg Bell and Jarrku Natu Bennett.

Frederick Andrews, a seventh defendant associated with these cases, is awaiting sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney John Bennett represented the government.