Member of Drug Trafficking Organization Receives More than 7 Years in Prison

WILMINGTON — United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that Chief United States Judge District Terrence W. Boyle sentenced SHAMON “TOE” kINSTON, 41, of New Hanover County to 90 months’ imprisonment, followed by 4 years of supervised release

On January 3, 2019, KINSTON pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and 500 grams or more of cocaine, distribution of a quantity of heroin and possession with the intent to distribution a quantity of heroin and a quantity of crack cocaine.

On August 20, 2018, law enforcement searched KINSTON’S residence in Wilmington North Carolina.  They found 71 grams of heroin, approximately a half an ounce of crack cocaine and more than $6,000 in cash.  Prior to the search of the residence, Wilmington Police Officers attempted to perform a traffic stop on KINSTON.  KINSTON refused to stop and took police on a high speed chase.  KINSTON ultimately wrecked his motorcycle and was arrested.  During the investigation, law enforcement learned that the items seized were a part of a kilogram of cocaine and 200 grams of heroin that KINSTON had been provided for distribution in New Hanover County.

This case is part of a joint FBI and ATF operation led by the United States Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), which focused on gang related heroin distribution in Eastern North Carolina.   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.

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 investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Street Task Force, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives, the Wilmington Police Department and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Severo prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.