New Bern Man Pleads Guilty to Multi-Year Heroin and Marijuana Conspiracy

RALEIGH – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that yesterday in federal court, before Chief United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle CALVIN MARK WILSON, 34, of New Bern, North Carolina pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute one thousand (1,000) grams or more of heroin and a quantity of marijuana.

During the defendant’s guilty plea hearing, the Government summarized the evidence supporting the defendant’s guilty plea.  After a multi-year investigation by the New Bern Police Department into a heroin trafficking ring operating in and around New Bern, NC, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) obtained authorization for a federal wiretap of cellular phones associated with WILSON and two co-defendants.  As a result, agents intercepted calls and texts over a three-month period in 2017 showing that WILSON was directing the supply and distribution of kilogram-levels of heroin from New York to New Bern, NC.  Based on intercepted calls, agents were able to stop and arrest WILSON and two co-defendants traveling back from New York with 3lbs of marijuana and 7 bars of heroin cutting agent.  Calls intercepted after that arrest indicated that WILSON had lost as much as $30,000 on that day alone based on law enforcement’s actions.  Later, after WILSON was arrested on his federal charges in October 2017, investigators searched his cell phone, which revealed additional evidence of WILSON arranging for the resupply of hundreds of grams of heroin at a time from his New York sources of supply and then distributing that heroin to street level dealers in New Bern.

At sentencing, the defendant faces not less than 20 years’ imprisonment and up to $10,000,000 in fines.

WILSON’s conviction was the culmination of a multi-year investigation into a heroin trafficking ring operating in and around New Bern, North Carolina, that has resulted in the federal convictions of 16 defendants for drug and gun charges.

The defendants include:

    DWAYNE LEE STALLINGS, aka “Smiley,” 35, of Cove City, NC.  STALLINGS was convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon and was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment.

    NASSAR TURE MACK, 37, of New Bern, NC.  MACK was convicted of possession of a firearm by felon and was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment.

    DAMIEN LAMONTE BROWN, aka “Dame,” 36, of New Bern, NC.  BROWN was convicted in August 2018 by a federal jury of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute one hundred (100) grams or more of heroin, possession with intent to distribute one hundred (100) grams or more of heroin, and possession of a firearm by felon.  BROWN faces not less than 10 years’ imprisonment and up to life imprisonment.

    DERRICK LAMONT DAVIS, aka “Gucci,” 35, of Kinston, NC.  DAVIS was convicted of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute one hundred (100) grams or more of heroin.  DAVIS faces not less than 5 years’ imprisonment and up to 40 years’ imprisonment.

    WALTER NAJEE GREEN, III, 21, of New Bern, NC.  GREEN was convicted of distribution of a quantity of heroin and faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment.

    MARIO CORRELLUS BARGNEARE, aka “Rio,” 39, of New Bern, NC.  BARGNEARE was convicted of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute one hundred (100) grams or more of heroin and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  BARGNEARE faces not less than 15 years’ imprisonment and up to life imprisonment.

    WILLIE FRANK JAMES AHERN, aka “White, White Bread, Dribs,” 39, of Bayboro, NC.  AHERN was convicted of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin and several instances of distributing quantities of heroin.  AHERN faces up to life imprisonment.

    DEREK JACQUAN WIGGINS, aka “DJ,” 38, of New Bern, NC.  WIGGINS was convicted of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin, several counts of distributing heroin, and possession of a firearm by a felon.  He faces up to life imprisonment.

    ROY JAMES NOLON, aka “Henny,” 21, of New Bern, NC.  NOLON was convicted of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  He faces not less than 5 years’ imprisonment.

    MICHAEL QUALEEK VELASQUEZ, aka “Moo Moo,” 23, of New Bern, NC.  VELASQUEZ was convicted of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin.  He faces up to life imprisonment.

    LAMAR HOSEA WIGGINS, aka “LB,” 39, of New Bern, NC.  WIGGINS was convicted of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin and possession of a firearm by a felon.  He faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment.

    LASHAWNNA JAQUETTE MCCOTTER, aka “Flossy,” 47, of New Bern, NC.  McCOTTER was convicted of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of marijuana.  She faces up to 25 years’ imprisonment.

    LATREKA DENISE HARDESTY, aka “T,” 27, of New Bern, NC.  HARDESTY was convicted of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin.  She faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment.

    ADRIENNE MICHELLE HALL, 35, of New Bern, NC.  HALL was convicted of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin.  She faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment.

    CAROLINE LOUISE HUGHES, 28, of Alliance, NC.  HUGHES was convicted of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin.  She faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment.

    

The investigation also led to 8 individuals being charged by the state for drug offenses.  Those charges remain pending.

The investigation was part of OCDETF Operation 190.  This is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).  OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), New Bern Police Department, Jacksonville Police Department, Craven County Sheriff’s Office, Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, Trent Woods Police Department, Carteret County Sheriff’s Office, Morehead City Police Department, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, and with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).  Assistant United States Attorney Laura S. Howard prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.