Those scheduled for arraignment today — Lann Clanton, Ikeisha Jacobs, Jason Boone, Adrienne Moody, Corey Jackson, Jimmy Pair Jr., Curtis Boone, Alphonso Ponton and Thomas Allen II — sat at an L-shaped table in the federal courthouse in Greenville before Howard took up their arraignments individually, with the exception of the Boones who he called together.
Howard told each defendant he expects sentencing to take place during the May 10 term of court.
The nine who pled today join five others who have already entered plea agreements in the case. Wardie Vincent Jr. was the first to take a plea.
Howard wished each one luck after their arraignments were completed.
Clanton was the first this morning to enter a plea to one count of narcotics distribution and accepting a bribe in the FBI undercover sting which commenced after the Halifax County Sheriff's Office learned of systematic corruption within the Northampton County Sheriff's Office.
Clanton, as the other eight, admitted his guilt in the case.
The maximum sentence range he could receive for count one is five to 40 years and four years to life for count two.
The Boones pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute narcotics and accepting bribes. The sentencing range is the same as Clanton's.
Jacobs pled guilty to three counts — conspiracy to distribute narcotics, carrying a firearm in the commission of the operation and accepting a bribe.
She faces a range of five to 40 years for count one, five to life for count two and 10 years for count three.
Moody pled guilty to a count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics and faces a sentencing range of five to 40 years.
Jackson pled guilty to a count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics and faces a sentencing range of five to 40 years.
Pair pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and one count of accepting bribes. He faces the same range as the others for the conspiracy count and up to 10 years for bribery.
Allen also pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and bribery and faces the same range as Allen.
Ponton pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and faces up to 20 years in prison.
