Wilmington Man Receives More than 6 Years for Gun and Drug Convictions

NEW BERN — Robert J. Higdon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announced that today, United States District Judge Louise Flanagan sentenced RONNELL MELVIN, 32, of New Hanover County to 83 months’ imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release.  On October 18, 2018, MELVIN pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin and cocaine base (crack).

On December 29, 2017, Wilmington Police Officers responded to a shots fired call in the 600 block of Campbell Street, Wilmington North Carolina.  When they arrived, officers observed MELVIN possessing a handgun.  MELVIN was ordered to drop the gun and he complied with the officer’s directive.  MELVIN was searched and found to have 2 cell phones, a quantity of crack cocaine and heroin and $229 on his person.  MELVIN had a prior felony conviction for attempting to traffic in heroin by transportation.

This case was brought using 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 Streets Task Force and the Wilmington Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Severo prosecuted the case.