Wilmington Gang Member Receives 10 Years in Federal Prison

RALEIGH – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that Chief United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced JACQUEZ HILL, 21, of Wilmington North Carolina to 120 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release.

HILL was named in an eleven-count indictment filed on February 13, 2019, charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin, eight-counts of distribution of heroin and one-count of possession with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin.  On June 11, 2019, HILL pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin, distribution of a quantity of heroin, and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin.

Between October 2017 and April 2018, the Wilmington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made ten controlled purchases of heroin from HILL at various locations in Wilmington, North Carolina.  During this period of time, HILL was wearing an ankle monitor related to North Carolina State Court convictions for possession with intent to deliver heroin and discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling.  HILL discharged the firearm during a prior drug deal.

On January 17, 2019, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents and members of the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office received information that Taveon Nixon was the passenger in a car driven by HILL.  Nixon had an outstanding federal arrest warrant.  Law enforcement attempted to stop the car at a gas station in New Hanover County in order to arrest Nixon.  HILL struck a law enforcement car while Nixon fled on foot.  HILL was removed from the car and placed under arrest.  Nixon was arrested on federal charges following a foot chase.   Raquel Adams, a back seat passenger, was found in possession of a quantity of heroin and United States Currency.  Law enforcement found an additional 250 heroin bindles and $2,500 in the car.  Nixon was sentenced in federal court last week and received a 10-year prison sentence.  More Here  Adams was sentenced yesterday and received 37months in federal prison.

On February 19, 2019, agents with ATF and the Wilmington Police Department attempted to arrest HILL near his apartment in the Mayfaire area of Wilmington.  HILL observed the officers and fled at a high rate of speed.  Agents were able to apprehend HILL later that evening.  Following HILL’S arrest, law enforcement found an additional quantity of heroin that HILL had hidden.

These cases are 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.

These cases are 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.