A Winterville man described by federal prosecutors as a local heroin distributor and a pimp was sentenced to 25 years in prison Tuesday after he pleaded guilty in December to federal heroin charges.

Maurice Eugene Moore Jr., 27, of Winterville was sentenced in U.S. District Court by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Malcolm J. Howard. Following his prison sentence, Moore will be on five years of supervised release.

“The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) initiated an investigation in 2013 in Jacksonville, North Carolina, after they received information that identified Moore as a local heroin distributor and a pimp,” a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice said. “The information revealed that Moore was promoting prostitution at the nearby U.S. Marine Corps bases.”

The investigation revealed that Moore purchased heroin from a person in New York and used women as drug mules to bring the narcotics back to North Carolina, the release said.

“Multiple witness statements revealed that Moore was frequently seen with firearms; and that he was in possession of both assault rifles and heroin in the hotel rooms and other locations he used to stash his drugs,” the release said. “The investigation further revealed that Moore got the prostitutes he was pimping addicted to heroin to facilitate the distribution of the drug.”

Moore pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and possession of ammunition by a felon on Dec. 5.

Sheriff’s offices in Pitt, Craven and Pamlico counties, as well as police departments in Havelock and Jacksonville, assisted in the investigation.



Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Lemmon prosecuted the case.

Moore was serving a sentence at Maury Correctional Institute for trafficking Schedule I drugs in Onslow County when he was sentenced to federal prison. He was scheduled to be released in February 2018 before he was sentenced Tuesday to 25 years.

In 2010, he was convicted in Pitt County of common law robbery and possession with intent to sell Schedule II drugs. He served about seven months for that conviction.

GREENVILLE

The police department released reports Tuesday-Wednesday with the following details and allegations:

Break-ins, thefts

4100 block Kittrell Farms Drive, 3 a.m.-9 p.m. April 10: local government federal credit union debit card stolen from vehicle; investigation ongoing.

3200 block Summer Place, 4:40-5:30 p.m. April 10: Taurus International 9mm gun valued at $100 stolen from vehicle; investigation ongoing.

2000 block Shadowood Court, 6:45 a.m.-4 p.m. April 10: rear door window of home busted out; $10 in damages; electric can opener, Scentsy wax burner, LL Bean book bag, UGG boots, pair of burlap Toms shoes, North Face raincoat, two pairs LL Bean Duck Boots, 10 DVDs, Costa del Mar Isabella sunglasses, 14-carat white gold National Championship cheerleading ring, 14-carat white gold class ring, 12 Sony PlayStation 3 games, Apple iPod Touch, two Sony PlayStation 3 controllers, Sony PlayStation 3, Kindle Fire HD, Toshiba Laptop and 40-inch VIZIO television, all valued at $640, stolen; investigation ongoing.

1900 block Exchange Drive, 3 a.m. April 9-1:30 p.m. April 10: 32-inch Samsung flat screen television valued at $300 stolen from home; investigation ongoing.

100 block River Bluff Road, 7 a.m.-12:30 p.m. April 1: two N.C. metal license plates valued at $35 stolen; one recovered; investigation ongoing.

1100 block South Overlook Drive, 10 p.m. April 7-8 a.m. April 9: hand gel, assorted documents and membership cards, Wells Fargo checkbook, Nine West small leather purse, N.C. driver license, Wells Fargo Visa debit card, all valued at $25.52, stolen from vehicle; investigation ongoing.

300 block Nash Street, 7-9:38 p.m. April 6: bathroom window sustained $250 in damages during home break-in; no items listed as stolen; investigation ongoing.

3100 block Evans Street, 1:48 p.m. March 28-1:48 p.m. April 6: break-in reported at business; no items listed as stolen; investigation ongoing.

3200 block Moseley Drive, 9 a.m. April 8-11 p.m. April 9: front door bent, door frame broken and door locks jammed during attempted break-in at home; damages estimated at $500; no items listed as stolen; case inactive.

3200 block Moseley Drive, 12:49-8:34 a.m. April 8: license plate personalized with “LOLOGI” valued at $150 stolen from vehicle; investigation ongoing.

2400 block Slay Drive, 10:30 a.m. Jan. 27-10:30 a.m. April 8: bodily force used to break into home; French doors/frame sustained $200 in damages; two televisions of unknown make/model valued at $1,000 stolen; investigation ongoing.

500 block Paladin Drive, 9 p.m. April 7-8:50 a.m. April 8: N.C. temporary registration plate stolen from vehicle; case inactive.

400 block West 12th Street, 11 p.m. April 7- 4 a.m. April 8: HP laptop and 40-inch Hisense flat screen television valued at $650 stolen from home; case inactive.

3900 block Sterling Pointe Drive, 4-4:08 a.m. April 8: attempted first-degree burglary reported at home of 18-year-old woman; no items listed as stolen; no items listed as damaged; investigation ongoing.

620 W. Fire Tower Road, near Winterville, 11:20-11:30 p.m. April 7: 18-count case of Bud Light beer valued at $14.99 stolen from Speedway; investigation ongoing.

100 block Contentnea Street, 9-9:19 p.m. April 7: bodily force used to enter rear ground window of home of 45-year-old woman; window lock sustained $200 in damages; no items listed as stolen; investigation ongoing.

1900 block East Fourth Street, larceny of motor vehicle parts reported; no items listed as stolen; case inactive.

1900 block Exchange Drive, 7:45 p.m. April 3-10:30 p.m. April 5: larceny reported at home; no items listed as stolen; investigation ongoing.

1600 block Sulgrave Road, 2:30 a.m. April 2-12:08 p.m. April 5: Samsung Galaxy J3 valued at $600 stolen from care facility; case inactive.

671 S. Memorial Drive, 12:55-1:05 a.m. April 5: four cartons of Newport cigarettes valued at $206.80 stolen from Walgreens; investigation ongoing.

2800 block Gateway Drive, 10-11 a.m. March 31: multiple hygiene products valued at $59.10 stolen from department/discount store; investigation ongoing.

700 block Kiesee Drive, noon March 31-10:17 a.m. April 4: laptop computer and television of unknown value stolen from home; investigation ongoing.

300 block East Roundtree Drive, 10 a.m. April 3: N.C. license plate valued at $30 stolen from vehicle; case inactive.

100 block West Third Street, 2:50 p.m. March 30: cellphone valued at $220 and wallet and contents stolen from 37-year-old man during strong-arm robbery; items recovered; investigation ongoing.

1301 W. Arlington Blvd., 4:50-4:54 a.m. April 7: box containing 30 cartons of Newport cigarettes valued at $1,484 stolen from Circle K; investigation ongoing.

Assaults

100 block Concord Drive, 9:31-10:15 a.m. April 10: 43-year-old man assaulted by girlfriend in road/street; extent of injuries not reported; case closed; unfounded.

100 block Ridge Place, 5-5:36 p.m. April 6: 39-year-old woman assaulted at home by boyfriend; extent of injuries not reported; investigation ongoing.

1900 block East Fire Tower Road, 8-8:15 p.m. April 8: 27-year-old man assaulted by stranger at restaurant; 24-year-old man also assaulted; minor injuries reported; investigation ongoing.

1500 block Bridle Circle, 4:50-5:05 p.m. April 8: 21-year-old woman assaulted in parking lot by ex-boyfriend; extent of injuries not reported; case inactive.

2600 block Cherokee Drive, 10:30-11 p.m. April 7: 45-year-old woman assaulted by boyfriend at his home; moderate injuries reported; case inactive; warrants obtained.

600 block Verdant Drive, 1-1:30 a.m. April 8: 30-year-old woman assaulted by acquaintance at residence; minor injuries reported; 30-year-old woman assaulted by known person; minor injuries reported; case closed; refusal to cooperate.

300 block Verdant Drive, 4:15-4:44 a.m. April 7: 29-year-old woman assaulted at home by ex-boyfriend; extent of injuries not reported; investigation ongoing.

500 block Forlines Road, near Winterville, 8:20-8:25 a.m. April 4: juvenile assaulted at school; minor injuries reported; investigation ongoing.

1500 block Craig Drive, 5:33-5:47 p.m. March 29: juvenile assaulted; minor injuries reported; juvenile arrested and charged with simple assault.

Damages

100 block Stuart Circle, 1:37 a.m. April 11: rear glass door of residence sustained $100 in damages; case closed.

100 block Kristin Drive, 11:40-11:46 p.m. April 10: 1999 Lexus GS300 damaged; case inactive.

600 block Gooden Place, 2:30-10:37 a.m. April 8: 2003 Nissan Altima damaged; vehicle tire sustained $80 in damages; case inactive.

2200 block Hyde Drive, 9 p.m. April 7-9:37 a.m. April 8: damage to personal property reported; items damaged not listed; case closed.

500 block Darden Drive, 11 p.m. April 7-7:30 a.m. April 8: 2007 Chevrolet Impala damaged; investigation ongoing.

300 block Haven Drive, 5:55-7:25 a.m. April 8: door of home sustained $200 in damages; investigation ongoing.

400 block Paladin Drive, 5-5:30 a.m. April 8: 2014 Nissan Sentra damaged by victim’s girlfriend; 23-year-old woman arrested and charged with three counts of injury/damage to personal property and resist/obstruct public officer.

PITT COUNTY

The sheriff’s office released reports Wednesday with the following details and allegations:

Break-ins, thefts

1400 block Sugar Creek Road, near Winterville, 10 a.m. April 7-6 p.m. April 9: Xbox valued at $200 stolen from home by spouse of 37-year-old man; investigation ongoing.

1800 block Tupelo Lane, 6-6:17 p.m. April 10: two red-nosed pit bulls valued at $200 stolen from home; investigation ongoing.

1400 block Kelly Circle, near Grimesland, midnight March 15-midnight April 10: chain saw, electric air compressor, gas blower, gas edger, electric pressure washer, Makita electric drill, automotive battery charger, portable gas generator, three five-gallon cans of gasoline, two LP gas tanks, all valued at $1,573.85, stolen from home; investigation ongoing.

Damage

1000 block Davenport Farm Road, 5 p.m. April 7-8 a.m. April 8: structure of commercial building sustained $100 in damages; case closed; refusal to cooperate.