Rocky Mount gang leader sentenced to 30 years for drug trafficking, more than $250K in COVID-19 fraud
A Rocky Mount gang leader was sentenced on Friday for his role in a drug trafficking operation and fraudulently obtaining more than $250,000 in COVID-19 relief funds.
Tyrone Foreman was sentenced to 30 years in prison after having pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl and marijuana and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
"Gun violence and drug trafficking, especially fentanyl, are grave concerns across North Carolina and indeed the nation," said Michael Easley, US Attorney, Eastern District of N.C.
Foreman, also known as "Ty Nitty," was also ordered to make restitution of $220,211.27 to the CARES Act. The 35-year-old was identified as a high-ranking member of a Rocky Mount area gang.
Easley said that a year ago, they announced the partnership with many of the law enforcement leaders to launch a violent crime action plan (VCAP) in Rocky Mount, NC.
The program aims to focus on gun violence, trafficking, and gangs that perpetrate both.
"We work closely to identify and prosecute the most significantly violent offenders in our district and those who supply them with the tools to kill," said Easley. "It is focused on disrupting and dismantling the most high-level drug traffickers, gangs and criminal organizations."
Operation Caught Cold led to the conviction of 17 people, including Foreman. The Department of Justice (DOJ) said Foreman was responsible for trafficking more than 14,000 doses of fentanyl mixture and more than 60,940 doses of heroin. The operation led to the seizure of 6,601 dosage units of a mixture containing fentanyl, 4,389 dosage units of heroin and more than 20 guns.
"Tyrone Foreman used threats and intimidation to run his criminal drug trafficking enterprise while his organization raked in over a quarter-million dollars in COVID-19 unemployment fraud," said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. "Through this operation, we seized at least 20 firearms, some in the hands of felons and purchased through straw buyers.
Let this 30-year sentence be a warning. Armed drug traffickers pushing fentanyl in North Carolina will pay a heavy price. Operation Caught Cold is yet another example of what can be accomplished when local law enforcement agencies partner to deliver justice."
In October 2019, Foreman had around 2,000 dosage units of heroin/fentanyl mixture recovered from his vehicle. In December 2020, more than 3,500 units of the same mixture were seized from Foreman and another gang member on Interstate 95 in Maryland during a traffic stop.
According to Easley, this is not a one-time partnership and they will continue to do what is best for the city of Rocky mount, making the city safe.
"This is just the beginning of what we are continuing to do and investigate within our city," said Easley. "There are a lot of other investigations that we're working on together within our city."
Foreman and several women were committing wire fraud conspiracy in which they were collecting COVID-19-related unemployment funds based on fraudulent claims filed on behalf of others, some of whom were in prison.
At least 26 false claims were filed, according to the DOJ. The conspiracy netted more than $250,000 in cash that was distributed to some of Foreman's associates.
"To anyone who may be watching the press conference, this is not the end. Yes, this is a win. But there are other wins to come." - Robert Hassell, RMPD Chief.
