Gang Member Sentenced to 12 Years for Drug and Firearm Charges

RALEIGH—United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court yesterday United States District Judge Terrence C. Boyle sentenced VICTOR O’BRIAN CAMPBELL, of Wilmington, North Carolina to 144 months’ imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release.

On June 15, 2009, CAMPBELL pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than fifty grams of cocaine base (crack) and felon in possession of ammunition.

On January 14, 2009, CAMPBELL sold a small quantity of cocaine to an undercover agent. He was then arrested and found in possession of ammunition. CAMPBELL has prior convictions for involuntary manslaughter, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing either a firearm or ammunition.

The investigation revealed that CAMPBELL was responsible for distributing more than 32 ounces of crack cocaine from the summer of 2008 until the time of his arrest. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Street Task Force, CAMPBELL was a validated Gang member.

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 200 kilograms of cocaine, more than 50 kilograms of crack cocaine, 3 kilograms of heroin, 20,000 ecstacy pills, and several kilograms of marijuana throughout Eastern North Carolina since 2003. To date, 19 people have been sentenced in federal court as a part of this operation.

Investigation of this OCEDTF 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 Investigation; the Wilmington Police Department; the New Hanover Sheriff’s Department; the Onslow County Sheriff’s Department; the Duplin County Sheriff’s Department; the Pender County Sheriff’s Department; 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. This has been made possible by a grant funded by the Governor’s Crime Commission and the New Hanover County Commissioners.