Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

WILMINGTON - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court today Senior United States District Judge James C. Fox sentenced LARRY DONNELL TAYLOR, 40, of Dunn, North Carolina, to 240 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised released for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base (crack) and 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering.  TAYLOR previously pled guilty to these charges on January 2, 2013.

The investigation revealed that from at least 2000 to October 2012, TAYLOR was an upper-level drug trafficker who received large quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine from several suppliers.  Upon receiving the drugs, TAYLOR utilized several individuals to distribute his drugs throughout the Eastern District of North Carolina.  TAYLOR also converted substantial quantities of cocaine into crack cocaine for resale.

On October 3, 2012, investigators served a federal arrest warrant on TAYLOR at his residence in Fayetteville. Law enforcement officers immediately observed a firearm lying on the floor of TAYLOR’S home.  A subsequent search of his home and/or vehicles revealed 9 kilograms of cocaine, 563 grams of crack cocaine, $551,136 in U.S. currency, digital scales, a semi-automatic rifle, and a loaded revolver.  Following his arrest, TAYLOR provided an unprotected statement to authorities, wherein he acknowledged possessing the firearms and drugs.

Investigators also determined that between May 2008 and May 2011, TAYLOR used $106,994 in drug proceeds to purchase at least four vehicles, including a 2007 GMC Denali, a 2007 Mercedes 550, a 2004 Ford F-150, and a 2004 Porsche Cayenne.  In order to conceal the source of the proceeds, TAYLOR recruited and directed the activities of his sister.  At the direction of TAYLOR, she purchased the Mercedes and Porsche on TAYLOR’S behalf and placed the vehicles in her name. The vehicles obtained were purchased with proceeds from TAYLOR’S drug trafficking, and TAYLOR used the vehicles to transport and distribute illegal narcotics throughout the Eastern District of North Carolina.

Based upon the evidence, TAYLOR is responsible for approximately 199.845 kilograms of cocaine, 56.56 kilograms of crack cocaine, and 80 pounds of marijuana, which have a total marijuana equivalency of 241,981 kilograms. TAYLOR also possessed at least two firearms in furtherance of his drug-trafficking activities, and he maintained an aggravated role in the offense by recruiting and directing the activities of other conspirators with regard to the drug-trafficking and money laundering.  Lastly, TAYLOR was in the business of laundering funds, and he is conservatively accountable for arranging four automobile transactions totaling $106,994 in drug proceeds.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Harnett County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Raleigh Police Department, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, and the Dunn Police Department.  The federal prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer E. Wells and Assistant United States Attorney Steve West.

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