Gang member pleads guilty to drug charges

NEW HANOVER COUNTY,  NC (WWAY) — A drug dealer and gang member will spend as much as a decade behind bars after pleading guilty to drug trafficking.

Carl Antonio Scott pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic in heroin between 14-28 grams, five counts of trafficking in heroin by sale between 4-14 grams, trafficking in heroin by transportation, possession with intent to sell and deliver heroin, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.

According to the investigation, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Vice and Narcotics Division with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms began a joint investigation of Scott after getting a tip he was responsible for the distribution of thousands of bags of heroin in the Wilmington area last year.

On four separate occasions from March 25, 2014, through March 28, 2014, a confidential informant gave Scott a total of $4,400 in exchange for 1,078 bags of heroin. On April 3 and April 16 2014, the state agent purchased a total of 400 bags of heroin from Scott.

An argument ensued on May 4, 2014, in the area of 529 Maides Avenue, between Scott and Darrell Taylor about whether Taylor had previously robbed Scott. Taylor pulled out a .45-caliber handgun. Scott took the gun away from Taylor and shot him in the chest. Taylor was taken to New Hanover Regional Medical Center, where he was treated and then released from the hospital.  Meanwhile Scott took off.

On May 6, 2014, law enforcement used the same informant to purchase 500 bags of heroin for $2,000 from Scott. The co-defendants Markee Scott and Deshawn Hankins were present during the drug deal, and the three drove away from the address shortly after the transaction. Law enforcement stopped the car and recovered a Tarus .45-caliber handgun on the floorboard of the passenger seat where Hankins was seated. Hankins claimed ownership of the gun.

Investigators did not find any drugs in the car, which Carl Scott was driving, but they did find $5,000 in cash, including the buy money from the undercover purchase that day, digital scales and paperwork that was related to gang activity. Scott had previously been validated by the Wilmington Police Department as a gang member.

Markee Scott and Hankins pleaded guilty to criminal charges.

Carl Scott was sentenced to between 7.5 and 10 years in prison.