The attorney's office this afternoon said the court granted a request by Tillmon to continue his arraignment to a future date set by the court. Its spokesman did not provide a reason why he is seeking the continuation and law enforcement sources familiar with the case today either said they didn't know why or declined comment for the record.

The latest document filed electronically in Tillmon's case was one filed in January in which it is requested a protective order be removed. The United States Court has not acted on the motion.

Tuesday, Lann Clanton, Ikeisha Jacobs, Jason Boone, Adrienne Moody, Corey Jackson, Jimmy Pair Jr., Curtis Boone, Alphonso Ponton and Thomas Allen II joined Tosha Rochelle Dailey, Kavon Phillips, Alaina Sue-Kam-Ling, Crystal Pierce and Wardie Vincent Jr. in admitting their guilt in the operation.

The operation, the attorney's office explained inside the federal courthouse in Greenville, was an FBI initiative involving the introduction of kilo quantities of purported heroin and cocaine into Eastern North Carolina as well as the Interstate 95 corridor.

The investigation began after the Halifax County Sheriff's Office began receiving tips of systematic corruption within the Northampton County Sheriff's Office.

Clanton, for instance, the attorney's office said in court, accepted more than $40,000 in bribes, a Rolex watch and participated in the robbery of a drug courier.

Jason Boone, the attorney's office said, accepted bribe payments and recruited others to join the drug trafficking organization.

Curtis Boone participated in six operations and accepted bribe payments.

Jacobs recruited others to join the trafficking organization and accepted more than $23,000 in bribes and a Rolex watch while Moody transported narcotics, accepted bribe payments and asked an undercover agent to get her 10 kilos to sell on her own.

Jackson participated in six operations, participated in recruitment and received $14,000 in bribe payments while Pair participated in six operations and drove a load vehicle.

Allen participated in one operation, attempted to recruit others and accepted $2,000 in bribe payments.

Ponton, who was recruited by Clanton, participated in two operations.

United States Senior District Court Judge Malcolm Howard allowed the nine to remain on their terms of release until their anticipated May 10 sentencing dates.