Two New Hanover County men have pleaded guilty to heroin charges that stemmed from several purchases through law enforcement confidential informants.
Seandell Eugene Robinson, 27, pleaded guilty July 14 in New Hanover County Superior Court to trafficking in heroin by possessing between 14 and 28 grams and possession of between 4 and 14 grams of heroin, according to District Attorney Ben David. And on July 18, 46-year-old Michael Lawrence Nixon pleaded guilty to four counts of selling heroin and four counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver heroin.
In October 2014 Wilmington police, utilizing a confidential informant, purchased .7 grams of heroin from Robinson at the Solomon Towers off Castle Street, David said. Detectives also seized 14 grams of compressed heroin and 83 bindles of heroin from Robinson during a vehicle stop, as well as items used to manufacture heroin at his home. More than $2,800 in cash was seized in the investigation.
“It appears from the evidence that the fact that [Robinson] had a good job was not enough to deter him from poisoning our community,” said Assistant District Attorney Timothy Severo, who prosecuted each case.
In a joint investigation between the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office and the the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), detectives used a confidential informant to purchase more than 200 bags of heroin from Nixon in July 2014. A month later, they purchased 200 bags of heroin from Nixon at his home in the 800 block of South Sixth Street and another 200 bags of heroin on Carnation Circle.
“The ATF has be an invaluable partner in our war on drug traffickers and armed drug dealers,” Severo said.
Robinson was represented by Attorney Geoffrey Hosford. Superior Court Judge Allen Cobb Jr. sentenced Robinson to 90 to 120 months in the N.C. Department of Corrections and ordered him to pay a $100,000 fine. Nixon, who was represented by Kate Eaton, was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Phyllis Gorham as a habitual felon and ordered to serve 88-118 months in prison.
