A Goldsboro drug trafficker has been convicted and sentenced to 40 years in federal prison, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced yesterday. Tamarcus Shaquan Ellis, 34, received his sentence after a federal jury found him guilty on charges relating to the distribution of methamphetamine and the horrific killing and dismemberment of a confidential informant used in the case.
According to court documents, Ellis’s wide-reaching drug trafficking was accompanied by violent measures to undermine law enforcement efforts. In this particular, and especially gruesome case, he was tied to the murder of a confidential informant, whose body was dismembered, wrapped in a tarp, and set on fire. U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. expressed a zero-tolerance stance on such violence, stating, “We won’t tolerate drug traffickers using violence, surveillance, and intimidation to dodge accountability and undermine the safety and dignity of American communities,” in a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The case was the culmination of a targeted operation against methamphetamine dealers in the region, with Ellis's organization coming into focus by early 2021. Over several months, federal agencies including ATF implemented controlled purchases of meth through a network led by Ellis, who attempted to dodge law enforcement by changing transaction locations and using intermediaries to conduct deals.
Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of ATF, commented on the significant level of violence unearthed during the investigation, emphasizing the priority that was placed on dismantling Ellis's operation. ATF and our law enforcement partners are proud to know that this dangerous individual is no longer a threat to our community," Mims remarked, despite the misuse of comma, indicating a separation between the subject and the verb.
The investigation further revealed that Ellis used a distinctive white Ford Ranger pickup truck in the disposal of the informant's body. Surveillance footage showed the vehicle at the location where the body was found, and search warrants executed at Ellis's properties discovered evidence such as loaded guns, over $63,000 in cash, and in a rap studio owned by Ellis, a substantial amount of the victim's blood. This gruesome crime adds a significant dimension to the already complex battle against drug distribution networks. The combined efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement were highlighted by Goldsboro Police Chief Michael West, who stated, “The successful federal prosecution of this dangerous individual demonstrates the unwavering commitment of law enforcement to protect our community from violence and the devastation caused by drugs.”
The operation leading to Ellis's conviction was part of a broader initiative by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, which coordinates multi-agency efforts to disrupt and take down top-level drug trafficking and criminal organizations. The OCDETF plays a vital role in addressing the cascading problems of narcotics distribution and related violence that plague communities across the country.
