An Ahoskie resident and known gang member, Rodney Lamont Evans, also known as “Woo,” has been sentenced to eight years in prison for firearm and drug trafficking offenses. In a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, officials confirmed that Evans pleaded guilty to the charges on September 30, 2024.
Hertford County Sheriff Dexter Hayes acknowledged the joint force of various law enforcement agencies said on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, “This case is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our local, state, and federal partners.” Authorities in Ahoskie had, on August 8, 2022, received tips about Evans's activities, which included distributing narcotics from his home located on McGlohon Street. During the execution of a search warrant, Evans momentarily eluded police by trying to hide on his roof.
Inside Evans’s residence, the search yielded nearly 360 grams of cocaine, over 5 grams of crack, over 1,700 grams of marijuana, a firearm, ammunition, digital scales, and drug packaging materials. Furthermore, it was revealed that Evans had a history with the law; he was previously convicted for indecent liberties with a child and had multiple convictions for possession with intent to sell cocaine. Evans’s history with homemade machinegun conversion devices, known as “switches,” was also unearthed during the investigation, as mentioned on the U.S. Attorney's Office website.
U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. commented on the sentencing that took place under U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle, stating on the U.S. Attorney's Office, “Their relentless efforts to investigate, prosecute, and bring to justice those who threaten the safety of our citizens reflect our shared commitment to a safer community.” The case was investigated by the FBI, ATF, the Down East Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, and the Hertford County Sheriff's Office, with the prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lori Warlick and Sarah Nokes.
