Wilmington man gets more than 6 years for gun, drug convictions

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A New Hanover County man was sentenced to prison in federal court Tuesday on gun and drug charges.

Ronnell Melvin, 32, will spend nearly seven years behind bars followed by three years of supervised release.

On October 18, he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin and cocaine base (crack).

On December 29, 2017, Wilmington Police officers responded to a shots fired call in the 600 block of Campbell Street in Wilmington. When officers arrived, they saw Melvin with a handgun and he was ordered to drop it. During a search, police said Melvin was in possession of two cell phones, crack cocaine, heroin and cash.

Melvin had a prior felony conviction for attempting to engage in trafficking heroin by transportation.