Leland Man Indicted for Lying to Federal Firearms Licensee During Attempted Purchase of a Firearm

RALEIGH – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that a grand jury sitting in the Eastern District of North Carolina returned an indictment charging HOWARD JOSEPH BURCHFIELD, 36 of Leland, NC  with two counts of providing a false statement in connection with purchasing a firearm and one count of possession of ammunition as a prohibited person.  Each count carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison.

The indictment alleges that on July 22, 2016 and April 1, 2017, in Shallotte, North Carolina, BURCHFIELD tried to purchase firearms from two federal firearm licensees.  BURCHFIELD was required to fill out an ATF 4473 Form, as part of the federal background check, in order to purchase the firearms.  On that form, BURCHFIELD checked the box “no” when asked if he had ever been adjudicated as a mental defective or been committed to a mental institution.   At the time, BURCHFIELD knew that he had been adjudicated as a mental defective in Colorado in 2013, and had been committed to a mental institution in Florida in 2010.  BURCHFIELD was unsuccessful in purchasing the firearms on both occasions.  BURCHFIELD again provided this same false written statement in connection with attempting to purchase a firearm on March 2, 2018 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.   BURCHFIELD was again unable to purchase the firearm.

The FBI in the Eastern District of North Carolina arrested BURCHFIELD for the above offenses on March 20, 2018, and he has remained in custody pending the outcome of this case.

This case is consistent with Attorney General Jeff Sessions directive to federal prosecutors, issued on March 12, 2018, to swiftly and aggressively prosecute individuals who lie in an attempt to thwart the federal background check system when purchasing firearms.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wilmington Resident Agency Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office, Wilmington PoliceDepartment, North Carolina Highway Patrol, Onslow County Sheriff's Office and Jacksonville Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Peggah B. Wilson is handling the prosecution of this case for the government.

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.

Drug Operation Don Quixote Lands 52nd Defendant in Federal Prison

RALEIGH—United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court yesterday TREMELL RASHAUD MCKINNEY, 35, of Wilmington, North Carolina, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge James C. Dever III, to 288 months’ imprisonment followed by five years’ supervised release.

On May 26, 2010, a Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment charging MCKINNEY. On September 7, 2010, MCKINNEY pled guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of cocaine base.

During the course of a long-term investigation being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Street Task Force, the Wilmington Police Department and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office into drug trafficking activity and gang violence; law enforcement obtained information and evidence from multiple sources that MCKINNEY was responsible for distributing large scale amounts of cocaine and cocaine base into Eastern North Carolina. Some of the narcotics were being distributed to gang members in the New Hanover County area. The investigation revealed that MCKINNEY was responsible for distributing more than 60 kilograms of cocaine, 10 kilograms of crack cocaine and 225 kilograms of marijuana and had sources of supply in Texas and Georgia.

This case was brought as a part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Operation entitled Don Quixote, investigating importers and multi-level distributors of cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, Ecstasy and gang activity associated with this distribution. This organization is responsible for the importation and distribution of more than 400 kilograms of cocaine, more than 150 kilograms of crack cocaine, three kilograms of heroin, 20,000 Ecstacy pills and more than 240 kilograms of marijuana into Eastern North Carolina since 2003. To date, 52 people have been sentenced in federal court as a part of this operation.Investigation of this OCEDTF case is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; the Federal Bureau of Investigations Safe Streets Task Force (Wilmington); the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations; the Wilmington Police Department; the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office; the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office; the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office; the Pender County Sheriff’s Office; the Holly Ridge Police Department; the Top Sail Police Department and the Surf City Police Department. 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.