Three-County Drug Dealer Receives Federal Sentence

RALEIGH—United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court today, United States District Judge James C. Dever III, sentenced ANTHONY JULIUS SCROGGINS, SR., 43, of Wilmington, North Carolina, to 228 months’ imprisonment followed by five years’ supervised release.

A federal grand jury returned a criminal indictment on February 9, 2011. On April 21, 2011, SCROGGINS pled guilty to conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and 28 grams or more of cocaine base (crack).

Through the investigation it was learned that SCROGGINS was a major drug trafficker in Brunswick, Columbus, and New Hanover Counties since the early 1990s. During this time, it is estimated that he sold more than 192,000 grams of crack cocaine and more than 3.5 kilograms of heroin. It was also learned that SCROGGINS employed several individuals to assist him with his drug-trafficking organization.

This case was brought as a part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Operation entitled WoofPack, investigating gang activity associated with the importation and multi-level distribution of heroin and crack cocaine.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Wilmington and Greenville’s Safe Street Tasks Force), Wilmington Police Department, Pitt County Sheriff’s Office and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Severo represents the government. Mr. Severo is a prosecutor with the New Hanover District Attorney’s Office. District Attorney Ben David has assigned him to the United States Attorney’s office to prosecute federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force criminal matters.