RALEIGH – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr.
announced that in federal court, Chief United States District Judge Terrence W.
Boyle sentenced TAVEON NIXON, 21, of Wilmington, North Carolina to 120 months
imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
On December 20, 2018, a Grand Jury sitting in the Eastern
District of North Carolina returned a four-count indictment, charging NIXON
with three counts of distribution of heroin and one count of possession with
intent to distribute a quantity of heroin and quantity of cocaine base
(crack). On May 20, 2019, NIXON pled guilty to
distribution of a quantity of heroin and possession with intent to distribute a
quantity of heroin and a quantity of cocaine base (crack).
According to the investigation, on November 29 and December
4, 2018, the Wilmington Police Department made two controlled purchases of
heroin from NIXON in the area of South 9th Street in Wilmington.
On December 10, 2018, officers with the Security Threat Unit
of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety conducted a warrantless
probationary search at the NIXON’s residence in Wilmington. NIXON was on probation for possession of a
firearm by a convicted felon. Law
enforcement found heroin, crack cocaine, and $1,400 cash. NIXON was arrested as a result. Following this arrest, NIXON removed an ankle
monitor in an attempt to evade law enforcement.
According to law enforcement, NIXON was a validated gang member.
On January 17, 2019, NIXON had an outstanding federal arrest
warrant. Law enforcement received
information that NIXON was the passenger in a car with other gang members. Task Force Officers of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) and members of the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office
attempted to make a traffic stop at a gas station in New Hanover County. The driver struck a law enforcement car,
while NIXON fled on foot. NIXON was
arrested following a foot chase. Law
enforcement found more than 250 bindles of heroin in the car and United States
Currency. The driver and another
passenger are scheduled to be sentenced in federal court later this month.
This case is part of an FBI-led Organized Crime Drug
Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation named “Dodge Ball.” This operation is focused on members of the
Nine Trey sect of the United Blood Nation, a violent gang in Wilmington, North
Carolina involved in the distribution of heroin, possession of firearms and
associated violence. This is a joint
investigation by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force (Gang Unit), Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Wilmington Police Department, and
New Hanover Sheriff’s Office. The FBI
Safe Streets Task Force and ATF utilize resources from federal, state, and
local law enforcement in order to efficiently and effectively target and combat
criminal gangs and drug trafficking organizations operating in coastal southern
North Carolina. A key component of
federal task force’s success involves the use of task force officers from local
law enforcement who have direct knowledge of the criminal gang activity in
their areas.
This case is also part of the Take Back North Carolina
Initiative of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of
North Carolina. This initiative
emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law
enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those
communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes
against law enforcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force,
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New Hanover County
Sheriff’s Office, Wilmington Police Department, and North Carolina State Bureau
of Investigation investigated this case.
Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Severo prosecuted the case on
behalf of the government.
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