Craven County Gang Members Sentenced to Combined 89 Years for Fentanyl and Firearm Trafficking

Eight members of the Bloody Shovel and Gangster Disciples gangs were sentenced to nearly 90 years for fentanyl and meth sales in North Carolina. Read the details.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 12, 2026, 8:17 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of North Carolina.

Dismantling a Regional Drug Pipeline

The federal investigation, led by the Craven County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF, targeted a sophisticated distribution network that flooded eastern North Carolina with illicit narcotics. Investigators identified Torrey Denard Stevenson as a primary supplier who transported fentanyl and methamphetamine from the Atlanta area to dealers in the Bloody Shovel Gang. These dealers established operations at a New Bern apartment complex, which served as a hub for both local sales and wholesale distribution to other criminal organizations.

Inter-Gang Cooperation and Supply Logistics

The case highlighted a rare level of cooperation between rival groups, as Clayton James Wright Jr., the leader of the local Gangster Disciples, frequently purchased bulk quantities of drugs from Stevenson’s network for resale. Wright also maintained separate supply lines from the Durham area. Between 2023 and 2024, law enforcement executed approximately 20 controlled purchases of narcotics and firearms. These efforts, combined with strategic traffic stops and search warrants, resulted in the seizure of over 460 grams of fentanyl, 1,500 grams of methamphetamine, and several handguns.

Final Sentencings and Federal Penalties

The sentencing of Kaihem Hicks to 11 years in prison on March 11, 2026, marked the conclusion of the judicial phase for this specific investigation. U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan handed down varying sentences based on each defendant's role in the conspiracy. Clayton James Wright Jr., identified as the Gangster Disciples leader, received 21 years, while primary supplier Torrey Denard Stevenson was sentenced to 16 years. Other significant sentences included 14 years for Andre Dimetrease Hudson, 11 years each for Kaihem Hicks and Demario Lequan Moore, 9 years for Brandon Jamal Smith, 5 years for Robert Niquan Bryant, and 2 years for Deaurvion Malik Roundtree.