Plymouth Bloods Member Gets 10 Years for Shooting

NEW BERN, N.C. – A Plymouth man with ties to the Nine-Trey Bloods is headed to federal prison for a decade, sentenced for possessing a firearm as a felon and allegedly using it to shoot a rival gang member. Melvin Donnell Gilliam, 35, received 120 months – ten years – after pleading guilty on March 12, 2024, to the charges stemming from a brazen afternoon shooting on July 25, 2021.

The incident unfolded in Plymouth’s White City neighborhood, a known hotspot for gang activity. Court documents paint a picture of escalating tensions: Gilliam and an accomplice arrived at a residence occupied by two members of the rival Eight-Trey Crips. A verbal altercation quickly turned physical, with Gilliam’s associate allegedly knocking one of the Crips to the ground. Then, according to the prosecution, Gilliam brandished a firearm and opened fire, hitting the victim in the back and left thigh.

When Plymouth police arrived on the scene, they found more than just a victim. A Springfield Armory Hellcat 9mm pistol, coated in blood, was discovered discarded in a trashcan in the backyard. Three spent shell casings matching the weapon were also recovered. Forensic analysis by the N.C. State Crime Lab strongly suggested the blood on the firearm belonged to Gilliam, significantly bolstering the case against him.

“We’re meeting gun violence head on, working side by side with local law enforcement to dismantle violent gangs and get shooters off the streets,” declared U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Many thanks to the FBI and our local partners for helping to keep our streets safe all across North Carolina. We’ll keep up the work until every community can live, work, and play in peace.” The sentiment rings hollow to those living in the shadow of gang warfare, but the Easley’s office is determined to make an example of Gilliam.

This federal conviction isn’t the end of Gilliam’s legal troubles. He also faces pending state charges in North Carolina, including assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, discharging a firearm within city limits, simple assault with a deadly weapon, and being a habitual felon. These charges suggest a pattern of violent behavior and a disregard for the law.

U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan handed down the sentence following the guilty plea. The investigation was led by the FBI, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Phil Aubart. Court records related to the case – Case No. 2:22-CR-16-FL – are available for review on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina website and through PACER. This case serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing struggle against gang violence plaguing communities across the state.

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