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The last of seven Scotland Neck United Blood Nation gang members was sentenced today in federal court in New Bern in a heroin trafficking conspiracy spanning from 2012 to 2017.

United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon Jr. announced in a statement United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced Markell Desetten “Kell” Wiggins, 33, of Scotland Neck, to 86 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.

He was the last of seven members and associates of the Sex, Money, Murder gang in Scotland Neck to be sentenced following a 15-count indictment filed on June 27, 2017, charging them with conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute heroin; distribution and possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin, and aiding and abetting; possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin; distribution of a quantity of heroin; and felon in possession of a firearm.

Wiggins was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and pled guilty to the charge on February 13, 2018.

He received sentencing enhancements as a leader in the conspiracy and for obstruction of justice by using someone under the age of 18 years old to assist in avoiding detection or apprehension.

Bo’Neka Sarell McDaniel, 29, of Scotland Neck, was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.

McDaniel pled guilty to that charge on October 2, 2017, and on February 21 of last year was   sentenced to 62 months imprisonment and four years supervised release.

McDaniel was sentenced as a leader based upon her position in the conspiracy.

Reginald “Whimp” Savage, 49, of Scotland Neck, was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin.

He pled guilty to that charge on September 13, 2017, and sentenced in April of 2018 to 14  months imprisonment and three years supervised release.

Collin Lee “BJ” Whitaker Jr., 25, of Greenville, was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin.

He pled guilty in September of 2017 and was sentenced to 12 months and three years supervised release in January of 2018.

Kevin Dwayne “K Rock” Carswell, 31, of Scotland Neck, was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin.

Carswell pled guilty in September of 2017and was sentenced in May of 2018 to 37 months imprisonment and three years supervised release. He received a sentencing enhancement for his possession of a firearm during the conspiracy.

Dantee “Tay” Brown, 37, of Tarboro, was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin.

Brown pled guilty in September of 2017 and was sentenced in January of last year to 30 months imprisonment and three years supervised release. He received enhancements in his sentence for his possession of a firearm and use of violence during the drug conspiracy.

Shanta Venita Hines, 31, of Scotland Neck, was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin.

Hines pled guilty to that charge on November of 2017. In February of last year Hines was sentenced to three years probation.

“This is proof of how working together works and I’m well pleased with the collaboration between agencies,” Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp said this afternoon. “Like other agencies, we continue to do our effort in dealing with the drug situation in our area. We certainly welcome the partnership with these agencies as well as the federal government agencies and the United States Attorney’s Office.”

According to the investigation, the seven people were members and affiliates of SMM and they distributed large quantities of heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana in and around the Halifax County area.

The defendants were supplied heroin from sources in New Jersey.

When one of their gang leaders was arrested, the members increased their drug trafficking activities as a mechanism to raise money.

McDaniel was not a member of the gang, but sold drugs on behalf of the gang to raise money for one of the gang’s leaders, which was her relative.

McDaniel sold 2,700 bags of heroin. McDaniel’s boyfriend, Savage, also assisted in the conspiracy and sold 2,650 bags of heroin.

Brown was a high ranking gang member who admitted to robbing others of drugs.

Carswell recruited his girlfriend, Hines, to assist in the drug conspiracy.

Law enforcement observed Hines selling drugs to a confidential informant in the presence of her young child.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tar River Regional Drug Task Force, a multi-agency task force, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office, Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, Pinetops Police Department, Scotland Neck Police Department, Tarboro Police Department, Rocky Mount Police Department, and Nash County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Dena King represented the government.