Validated Bloods Gang Member Nabbed in Edenton NC Sentenced to Federal Prison

WILMINGTON, NC – A routine traffic stop in Edenton, NC, quickly escalated when officers discovered a convicted felon in possession of a loaded firearm. What started as a minor violation soon led to a federal prison sentence for a validated gang member.

Felon Caught with Loaded Firearm

Jamari Tyrek Ishman, 24, a validated Bloods gang member, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Ishman pled guilty on November 20, 2024, and received his sentence in U.S. District Court in Wilmington, NC.

Traffic Stop Uncovers Loaded Weapon

On March 16, 2024, Edenton police pulled over Ishman for an expired registration violation. During the stop, officers smelled marijuana, saw an open bottle of wine, and noted a juvenile passenger in the car. Ishman was asked to step out of the vehicle, and officers noticed a red bandana in his back pocket, indicating gang affiliation.

A search of Ishman led to the discovery of a firearm magazine in his pocket. He initially denied having a matching gun in the car but later admitted to hiding a loaded 9mm handgun with an extended magazine under the seat. Officers also found a small amount of marijuana in a pill bottle.

History of Violent Crime

Ishman, a convicted felon, was prohibited from possessing a firearm. His criminal history includes:

• Assault inflicting serious bodily injury on a detention employee (2021)
• Multiple breaking and entering convictions (2019)

Federal Crackdown on Violent Crime

This conviction stems from the Violent Crime Action Plan (VCAP), a multi-agency effort to combat violent crime. VCAP leverages intelligence-led policing, interagency coordination, and strategic enforcement to remove dangerous offenders from the streets.

Law Enforcement and Prosecution

Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar announced the sentencing, with Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II presiding. The Edenton Police Department and Department of Homeland Security conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Dixon prosecuted the case.

For more details, visit the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or search case number 2:24-cr-00024-M-BM on PACER.

Photo: Edenton Police Department