NEW BERN N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Mijuel Taylor, also known as “Mthang,” 24, of Wilson to almost 12 years in federal prison for possessing meth with intent to distribute it and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
“Stashing a loaded gun in your waistband while standing in a house tied to gang shootings, with a pocket full of meth, is a fast track to federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Wilson has seen far too many gang‑related shootings and lawlessness. This conduct only fuels more violence in a vicious cycle. The rules for staying out of trouble are simple: no gangs, no illegal guns, and don’t sell drugs. These young thugs destroy their families and communities with guns and drugs and the inevitable violence that follows. If you somehow avoid getting shot, you go to prison to rot. Get smart. Choose better.”
In the summer of 2024, Wilson experienced at least 12 gang‑related shootings. Investigators determined the violence fueled from a dangerous rivalry between two local hybrid gangs; the “600/Snail/Taliban,” tied to the Nine Trey Gangster Bloods, and “D.M.G.,” linked to the 52 Hoover Gangster Crips. During the investigation, law enforcement learned that the gang banger stored firearms tied to the gang shootings at a residence in Wilson.
On July 25, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at that residence suspected of hiding guns tied to gang‑related shootings. As they moved in, officers confronted Taylor near a side door and immediately detained him. During the search, they found a loaded 9‑millimeter handgun tucked into his waistband and more than 48 pills containing meth in his pocket.
“This sentencing underscores the FBI’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the public and dismantling the violent criminal networks that undermine community safety. Gang-related violence remains a significant driver of violent crime nationwide, with federal assessments showing that criminal gangs are responsible for a substantial share of shootings and gun trafficking activity across the United States. Through close coordination with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to disrupt the organizations that fuel this violence, remove illegally possessed firearms from our streets, and ensure that individuals who traffic in narcotics and weapons are held fully accountable under federal law," said Reid Davis, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The FBI’s Raleigh Durham Safe Streets Task Force and the Wilson Police Department investigated the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. 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. 5:24-cr-00325-FL.