A Scotland Neck man and Weldon man have been federally indicted for drug sales, Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp said in a statement.

Gerald Whitaker faces two federal counts of selling heroin while Luther Allen “Worm” Terry faces two federal counts of selling crack within 1,000 feet of Weldon High School, according to the indictment filed in the court system.

Whitaker

According to the sheriff's statement, on or about June 21, 2013, the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety Alcohol Law Enforcement branch, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration started an investigation of Whitaker, the Scotland Neck resident, for heroin trafficking in the community.

Through the combined efforts, Whitaker, 40, of Highway 903, was arrested May 12 of last year on several state-level heroin trafficking counts and confined to the Halifax County Detention Center under a $75,000 bond.

On Tuesday, the sheriff said, Captain A.M. Harris, who now leads the City County Drug Task Force, testified before a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina and an indictment was returned. “Due to the hard work and the continued investigation of this case by all agents Whitaker is now facing several federal drug violations which include two counts of distribution of a quantity of heroin.”

In the first count, Whitaker is charged with knowingly and intentionally distributing a quantity of heroin on July 8 of 2013, while the second count charges the same on July 22 of 2013.

The indictment notes, “The defendant committed the violations in counts one and two after two or more prior convictions for felony drug offenses had become final.”

Whitaker was taken into custody today by task force agents for his first appearance in Greenville Friday.

Terry

Meanwhile, Terry, was arrested today by task force agents and was charged previously in the sheriff's office's Southern Summer campaign. He was also federally indicted Tuesday.

The sustained campaign began on March 31 of last year and concluded around June 30 of last year, targeting drug activity based on citizen complaints and officer observation.

Count one of Terry's indictment charges on or about April 16, 2014, he did knowingly and intentionally distribute a quantity of crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of Weldon High School while the second count charges the same was done the following day in Ransome Circle community of Weldon.

He reportedly sold crack to a confidential informant, the sheriff said.

Terry will have his initial appearance on Friday at the United States District Court in Greenville.

“Agents and the sheriff would like to thank our elected District Attorney Valerie M. Asbell and her staff for the continued support of this case,” Tripp said in the statement.

The federal prosecution will be handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney Glenn Perry, who is a prosecutor with the Pitt County District Attorney's Office and is assigned to prosecute federal organized crime.

“The sheriff commends the hard work of the agents and continues to chip away at the drug problem in Halifax County,” Tripp said this evening.