Laying down the law: Easley says 21 indicted as result of VCAP task force's efforts

EDENTON — A new push by federal, state and local law enforcement officials across the region to crack down on violent and gang-related crime is paying off, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina said Tuesday.

Thanks to the coordinated efforts of a task force of Albemarle law enforcement agencies, federal authorities have indicted 21 suspects since January on either firearm or illegal drug charges or both, U.S. Attorney Michael Easley said during a visit to Edenton.

About two dozen law enforcement professionals, including sheriffs, police chiefs, and agents with the FBI, Homeland Security, and other federal agencies assembled in Edenton’s Town Council Chambers to hear Easley detail the progress that’s been made since he initiated the Violent Crime Action Plan Task Force in January.

The Violent Crime Action Plan Task Force is a collaboration between Easley’s office, federal agencies, and local law enforcement in Chowan, Pasquotank, Bertie, Perquimans, Camden, Currituck, Gates, Washington, and Dare counties to combat gangs and the drugs, guns, and violence that come with them.

“In January of this year, I joined local law enforcement leaders in the Albemarle region to discuss ways to work together to curb violent crime,” Easley said. “Since that initial launch of VCAP, we have brought charges against 21 individuals that we believe are contributing significantly to violence in the region. Those involved in violent crime should take note — our work will continue, and you will be next.”

Easley said the task force had gotten federal indictments against eight crime suspects during the last week alone. They included:

• Robert Hall, 42, of Perquimans County, on charges of kidnapping and possession of a firearm by a felon.

• Miguel Williams, 34, of Elizabeth City, on charges of possession of a firearm by a felon, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

• Al Ortiz, 48, of Elizabeth City, on a charge of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

• Stanford Dantzler, 23, of Elizabeth City, on a charge of possession of a firearm by a felon.

• Anthony McCoy, 25, of Elizabeth City, on charges of possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a machine gun.

• Rashawn Baum, 28, of Elizabeth City, on charges of possession of a firearm by a felon and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

• Tysheem Commander, 31, on a charge of possession of a firearm by a felon.

• Jamari Ishman, 24, of Edenton, on a charge of possession of a firearm by a felon.

Dantzler, McCoy, Baum, Commander and Ishman are all believed to be members of the Blood street gang, federal officials said in a press release.

Officials attending Tuesday’s briefing on the VCAP noted that collaboration between task force members remains critical to the plan’s success.

“The gang and drug violence plaguing our communities is a problem too large for any law enforcement agency to tackle alone,” said Robert M. DeWitt, the FBI Special Agent in Charge for North Carolina. “These arrests are an outstanding example of what local, state, and federal partners can accomplish when we operate as a force multiplier in the fight against violent crime.”

Easley said the VCAP task force was created in response to an uptick in shootings and gang-related violence. He said local law enforcement leaders told his office they needed better communication between jurisdictions, region-wide intelligence, and more cooperation with prosecutors to get appropriate sentences for criminals. He said the task force has been doing just that.

Dare County Sheriff Doug Doughtie, who attended Tuesday’s meeting, said criminals should take note of the task force’s success.

“This is truly a team effort, and it takes that commitment from the judicial side as well as their law enforcement counterparts to make it work,” he said. “Hopefully, this will send a strong message to those individuals who continue to commit violent crimes and to those others who think they can, that their days may be numbered until their time is up.”