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Press Release

Fourteen Individuals Convicted For Their Participation In Large-Scale Drug Distribution Conspiracy

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of North Carolina

WASHINGTON – Eight current and former law enforcement officers, four correctional officers and two other individuals have been convicted for their participation in trafficking narcotics and narcotics proceeds for a large-scale drug trafficking organization, announced Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Acting U.S. Attorney John Stuart Bruce of the Eastern District of North Carolina.

In April 2013, the FBI initiated an undercover investigation regarding allegations of systemic corruption within the Northampton County, North Carolina, Sheriff’s Office (NCSO).  Undercover agents posed as members of a large-scale drug trafficking organization that was responsible for introducing kilogram quantities of narcotics to be transported up the I-95 corridor.  In connection with their guilty pleas, the defendants admitted that they understood that they were recruited to work for the drug trafficking organization because of their status as law enforcement officers or ties to law enforcement.  The investigation grew as the original targets recruited others to participate.  The defendants transported purported narcotics and narcotics proceeds for the drug trafficking organization in exchange for bribe payments, and some defendants carried firearms during this time.

The following individuals pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of North Carolina:

  • Lann Tjuan Clanton, a former correctional officer with the Virginia Department of Corrections, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and firearm charges today;

  • Ikeisha Jacobs, a former sergeant with the NCSO, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy, firearm and bribery charges today;

  • Jason Boone, a former captain with the NCSO, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and bribery charges today;

  • Adrienne Moody, a former correctional officer with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge today;

  • Cory Jackson, a former deputy sheriff of the NCSO, pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge today;

  • Jimmy Pair Jr., a former lieutenant with the NCSO, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and bribery charges today;

  • Curtis Boone, a former deputy sheriff with the NCSO, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and bribery charges today;

  • Alphonso Ponton, a former sergeant with the Virginia Department of Corrections, pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge today;

  • Thomas Jefferson Allen II, a former sergeant with the NCSO, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and bribery charges today;

  • Wardie Vincent Jr., a former detective sergeant with the NCSO, previously pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and firearms charges;

  • Alaina Sue-Kam-Ling, a former correctional officer with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, previously pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge;

  • Kavon Phillips, a former correctional officer with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, previously pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge;

  • Crystal Pierce, of Raleigh, North Carolina, previously pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge; and

  • Tosha Dailey, a former 911 dispatch operator for Northampton County, previously pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge.

The FBI Charlotte Division’s Raleigh Resident Agency investigated the case.  Trial Attorneys Lauren Bell and Menaka Kalaskar of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Toby W. Lathan of the Eastern District of North Carolina are prosecuting the case.

Updated February 10, 2016