The search warrant, which also confirms a weapon was seized at the Scotland Neck home of Tony Reams, stops short of describing the events which occurred at the time of his and Herbert Cherry’s arrest near the 173 mile marker of Interstate 95 in Roanoke Rapids early Monday morning.
The document, written by Agent D.W. McKeel, notes both the City County Drug Task Force and the Tar River Regional Drug Task Force were conducting an investigation of Reams and his alleged involvement in trafficking heroin throughout the Eastern United States, namely in Edgecombe, Halifax and Nash counties.
Sources helping the task forces indicated Reams is reputedly the alleged source of a supply of heroin “to several known drug dealers throughout Halifax, Edgecombe and Nash counties. Tony Reams has a history of selling heroin and conceals his proceeds by using family members and friends. He keeps large amounts of currency and heroin at his residence as well as residences of family members.”

Weapon, documents seized

The discovery of a weapon at the home of Reams Monday morning could lead to further charges or be used if the case is adopted federally.
Captain A.M. Harris of the City County Drug Task Force said Wednesday agents are still trying to determine whether to file state charges against Reams or use the discovery “as enhancement should the feds adopt it.”
Seizure of a tan case containing a .22-caliber rifle is noted in the search warrant applied for the day before Reams and Cherry, of Tarboro, were arrested after they came back from a trip to Patterson, New Jersey, to allegedly restock their supply of heroin.
A total of 13, .22-caliber rounds and documents in the name of Reams were also seized from his residence.

Surveillance and detection

While stopping short of documenting the details of their arrest Monday morning, the search warrant does show the past efforts used to catch the men and confirms agents were aware of the trip which would ultimately lead to the seizure of trafficking amounts of heroin.
On July 6 of last year, the search warrant says, law enforcement established surveillance near the North Carolina-Virginia line after learning Reams and another man were going to Patterson “to acquire multiple bricks of heroin.”
Reams eluded law enforcement in that surveillance and escaped detection.
On February 20, law enforcement again received information Reams and Cherry were in New Jersey “acquiring a significant amount of heroin” and were riding in a 2001 Infiniti I-30.
“Law enforcement was able to corroborate utilizing databases and cell phone records that the vehicle had traveled to Patterson on February 19 and returned February 20.”
The final entry of the search warrant, besides noting the items seized in the residential search, was Reams and Cherry would be making “another trip to Patterson, New Jersey, to acquire a large amount of heroin on March 12.”
At approximately 10:48 Sunday morning, the search warrant says, the vehicle crossed the North Carolina line and into Virginia.
The following morning the vehicle was stopped and Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp said in a briefing held later that day, 694 bricks with 34,700 bindles weighing a total of 3,460 grams were seized.
The seizure represented a monetary value of $347,000.