Two Beaufort County men have been sentenced to lengthy terms in federal prison for their roles in distributing various illegal narcotics. Bobby Lee Moore, Jr., 45, and Andre Trell Hamilton, 43, were implicated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin—substances tied to a serious epidemic of addiction and overdose.
Moore, who pled guilty on March 20, received a 20-year sentence, while Hamilton, pleading guilty just six days later, was sentenced to a decade behind bars. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, these convictions are the result of a concerted effort to curb the flow of dangerous drugs in the community. "These two sold a lot of drugs flooding our families and communities with poison," U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle stated. He added that partnering with the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office and the DEA aims to target such "big shark bad boys" and restore safety to local streets.
Details from the court records reveal a history of controlled purchases from Moore, dating from February 2021 up to July 2023. Moore orchestrated these drug deals directly. An incident on May 31, 2023, sees Hamilton directly involved in the trade, selling over 56 grams of pure methamphetamine for cash.
It seems that neither of the men are strangers to the criminal justice system. Hamilton's own legal woes span back two decades, including a litany of offenses from assault to burglary. Moore's criminal activities date all the way to September 2001, with a record littered with drug distribution and crimes of violence. The convictions, which culminate in their current sentences, were announced by U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle after proceedings in the U.S. District Courts.
Investigations by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, alongside the Drug Enforcement Agency, underscore a commitment to dismantling local drug operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Dixon led the prosecution, publicly highlighting the collaboration between agencies in facing the challenge posed by widespread drug distribution networks.
