By james art RALEIGH — Two Sampson County men have been charged in the October 2022 murders of five people at a home on Garland Highway.
The announcement was made this morning during a press conference held by US Attorney Michael Easley Jr.
The charges were dropped after unspecified leads led to the arrest of suspects Robert Andrew Daquan Williams, aka “Double Tap,” Drew and TTG, 31, and Derek George, 35, both of Sampson County.
“The charges brought in this case demonstrate the partnership between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute individuals believed to be contributing to violence in our communities,” Easley said during the press conference.
In a superseding indictment returned Aug. 27, a federal grand jury indicted Williams and George on felony counts of drug distribution and robbery. The indictment also alleges that the possession of a firearm supported the drug and robbery charges and that the firearm discharged, resulting in the killing of five victims.
Williams and George are each charged with one count of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base (crack), one count of conspiracy to commit robbery under the Hobbs Act, one count of robbery under the Hobbs Act, and one count of discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Williams also faces one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
A third person named in the indictment has been charged with illegal possession of a weapon, but is not currently facing charges related to the murders. His name has not been released.
Easley praised the work of FBI Special Agent in Chief Dave Smith and his team, along with Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton.
“This case is being worked on every day regardless of the progress,” said Capt. Lawrence Dixon, head of the sheriff’s criminal investigations division. “Clues were immediately made and we were able to grow from them to have enough to make arrests.”
Previously arrested on other charges, Williams has been in jail since November 9, 2023. He was charged by the jail.
George was taken into custody by federal authorities.
“It’s troubling when you see the number of people killed and the age range,” Dixon noted, saying he’s seen a wide range of cases.
“We’re never going to be free of drug problems,” Thornton said. “For every one or two we arrest, someone will take their place.”
If convicted, Williams and George could face the death penalty.
See the full feature in Saturday’s edition of The Sampson Independent.