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

RALEIGH, N.C. – Tyzheem Nixon, 27, of Wilmington, was sentenced on Friday to 114 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Nixon is a validated member of the Bloods street gang. He pled guilty to the charge on September 15, 2022.

“We are working closely with our law enforcement partners at every level to put violent criminals behind bars,” said Michael Easley. “If you are a felon in possession of a firearm, we will bring federal charges that carry significant penalties.”

“Disrupting drug trafficking networks has a significant impact on reducing violent gun crime”, said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “Through collaborative efforts, we are stopping the gang members and drug traffickers responsible for violent crime in our communities.”

“Mr. Nixon is a career criminal and validated gang member with a very violent history,” said District Attorney Ben David. “Removing him from our community for the next decade is exactly why we invest in this partnership.”

According to court documents and other information presented in court, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office received information in late November of 2020, that Nixon was among those involved in a shooting in the Wilmington area. At the time, Nixon was on post supervision release and was believed to have removed his ankle monitor.  On December 17, 2020, the United States Marshal’s Service (USMS) Fugitive Task Force received information regarding Nixon’s location.  The USMS and sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop on a car in which Nixon was a passenger.  During a search of the car, law enforcement found a loaded handgun with a large capacity magazine.  

Nixon has prior felony convictions for discharging a weapon into an occupied property and assault with a deadly weapon (2014). Nixon was on post supervision release for these charges at the time he committed this federal offense.  Nixon is also facing charges for felonious possession of a weapon by a prisoner after allegedly possessing a handmade shank while being held at the New Hanover County Detention Center.

This is part of operation “Golfer” which is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and 

dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the New Hanover and Brunswick County Sheriffs’ Offices investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Severo and Gabe Diaz 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. 7:21-CR-00104-D.

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