TARBORO —
A Princeville man was convicted by a federal court jury in New Bern in December was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison Tuesday.
Eli Stafford, 34, 410 Howard St., was convicted of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, marijuana and ecstasy, use of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Stafford had the opportunity for a shorter sentence, but turned down the offer of a 15-year plea bargain and opted for the trial by jury.
According to reports, officers stopped Stafford for a window tint violation and asked for consent to search the vehicle, prompting Stafford to tell them it wasn't his vehicle.
At that point, officers called in a K-9 unit to do an exterior search of the vehicle, with the K-9 alerting on the driver's side of the vehicle.
After the alert, officers searched the vehicle and found a plastic bag under the driver's seat which, upon investigation, contained three grams of crack cocaine, 63 grams of marijuana and seven ecstasy pills. Officers also found a .25 caliber Lorcin handgun.
Additionally, officers seized two sets of digital scales, a Samsung cell phone, a Blackberry cell phone, a .25 caliber Lorcin magazine clip and $705 in cash.
Stafford has been in trouble with the law dating to 2001, when he was convicted in October for possessing schedule VI drugs. A month later, he was convicted for possessing schedule VI drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.
In February 2004, he was convicted on charges of possession of schedule VI and drug paraphernalia and in June 2005. he was convicted for possession of schedule VI and possession of schedule II.
Stafford served more than two years in prison for those convictions and it was as a result of those convictions that Tarboro Police decided to take the case to the federal level.
United States Attorney John Bennett, who prosecuted the case, cited the professionalism of the Tarboro Police Department in handling handled and presenting the case to federal agents.
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Stafford gets 35 years for drug conviction
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Gas prices in Tarboro lower than state average
With Memorial Day Weekend around the corner, travelers on U.S. 64 exiting into Tarboro could discover some of the cheapest gas in North Carolina.
On Wednesday, Murphy Express reported the cheapest gas at $3.35 while Hadi's, Raceway and Hess prices were one cent higher. -
Tar River United Way recognizes ‘community champions’
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America in Bloom judges’ visit Tarboro next month
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“Please join us as Tarboro prepares for the visit of national AIB judges on June 17 and 18,” said AIB co-chair Connie Sherrill in a competition planning update. “Help us bring out the beauty of our exceptional town.” -
Local Principal Completes Leadership Program
Donnell Brown, principal of Phillips Middle School, recently completed the Distinguished Leadership Program (DLP), a yearlong leadership development program for practicing school principals designed and provided by the North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principal’s Association (NCPAPA) in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and UNC-LearnNC.
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Woman faces 32 charges
A Tarboro woman's scam has led authorities to arrest her on 28 charges.
According to a Tarboro Police Department report, Jennifer Ann Carr, 29, 1609 Barlow Rd. Apt. 9, took out loans in the names of 16 customers of a local business from January through April. Carr was employed through a temp agency with a local business, said Tarboro Police Sgt. Al Braxton. Braxton said the total loan amount netted $4,300.
Carr was charged with 16 counts of identity theft and 16 counts of obtaining property by false pretenses. She was place in Edgecombe County Detention Center under a $10,000 secured bond.
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Two suspects arrested on 36 charges; third issued citation
After executing a search warrant Thursday on a residence at 500 W. Johnston St. in Tarboro, police officers arrested two suspects for possessing a small amount of marijuana and issued a third suspect a citation for possessing a glass pipe to smoke the drugs.
After the marijuana was found, officers notified two of the three suspects that they also had additional warrants on them from the department's "Spring Fling" drug campaign where they had sold marijuana to undercover officers. -
Introductory Latin class beginning Tuesday
Want a leg up in a medical terminology course? Anatomy? Physical science? Take a look at Latin, perhaps the best grounding for all education.
Not convinced? Just ask Stephen Herring, instructor of religion, geography, and developmental studies at Edgecombe Community College (ECC). He will teach an Introductory Latin class beginning Tuesday. The class will meet at Fleming 218 on the Tarboro campus. -
NTSB wants to lower DWI blood alcohol levels
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Measles cases have state health officials concerned
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“It (measles) is a highly contagious disease that is spread in the air by coughing and sneezing,” said Susan Rogerson, nursing director at the Edgecombe County Health Department. Outbreaks of measles in the United States are rare because of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. -
County still looking for bids on 41 properties
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County Planning Director Brian Hassell said interested parties may submit bids for commissioners to consider. If a bid is approved and another party is interested, they may submit an upset bid. - More Local News Headlines
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