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Press Release

Pasquotank County Drug Trafficker Found Guilty

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

ELIZABETH CITY – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that in federal court yesterday, a jury convicted DAVON KELLY BENNETT, 41, from Elizabeth City, N.C., of conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, 100 grams or more of heroin and marijuana; possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 100 grams or more of heroin and marijuana; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and money laundering by concealment.  United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle presided over the three day trial and scheduled BENNETT’S sentencing hearing in January 2017.     

     On March 4, 2015, detectives with the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies executed a search warrant at BENNETT’S residence located at 1300 Brothers Lane, Elizabeth City, N.C.  During the search, $81,047 was seized from BENNETT’S washing machine.  Detectives found more than $10,000 in U.S. currency, three firearms, and titles to multiple motor vehicles registered in the names of nominee owners in BENNETT’S bedroom.  Detectives located 92 grams of marijuana, a vacuum sealer, two sets of digital scales and two money counters in the house, and approximately 180 grams of marijuana in a shed on the property.  Motor vehicles parked at the residence, including a Honda Odyssey, were searched the following day.  Detectives recovered 3 kilograms of cocaine, 789 grams of heroin, $60,100 and a stolen .38 caliber revolver from a hidden compartment in the floor board of the Honda Odyssey.

     Evidence presented at trial established that BENNETT had conspired to traffic narcotics since 2000 and had paid associates to register motor vehicles in their names to conceal his drug proceeds.  BENNETT and his associates had been subjects of a long-term investigation conducted by several federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office, the Dare County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenville Regional Drug Task Force, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, the Nags Head Police Department, the Kill Devil Hills Police Department, the Kitty Hawk Police Department, the Elizabeth City Police Department, and North Carolina Wildlife Enforcement.   

The federal prosecution was handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney Glenn Perry and Assistant United States Attorney Brad Knott.  Mr. Perry is a prosecutor with the Pitt County District Attorney’s Office.  Pitt County District Attorney Kimberly Robb has assigned Mr. Perry to the United States Attorney’s Office, pursuant to funding provided by the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys, to prosecute federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force criminal matters.  

Updated October 21, 2016