NEW BERN, N.C. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - North Carolina, Eastern), published as received.

NEW BERN, N.C. – Maurice “Gotti” Bellamy 29, of New Hanover County was sentenced today to 132 months in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess With Intent to Distribute a Quantity of Heroin and Distribution of a Quantity of Heroin.  On June 4, 2020, Bellamy pled guilty to these charges

According to court documents and evidence presented in court, on June 11, 2019 Bellamy sold a quantity of heroin to someone working at the direction of law enforcement in Wilmington.  The investigation uncovered that Bellamy was involved in the distribution of more than 2 kilograms of heroin.

According to a civil injunction filed in 2017 against the Folk Nation-720 Gangster Disciples in New Hanover County Superior Court, Bellamy was a member of this gang.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.  This OCDETF focuses on a Multi-State Drug Trafficking Organization and Gang Activity that has been responsible for the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine throughout the United States.

G. Norman Acker, III, acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing before U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan.  The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wilmington Police Department, Holly Ridge Police Department and New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo  prosecuted the case

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:19-cr-00126-FL-6.