3 more tied to multi-county auto theft ring, arrests made

This week, three men—two from Sampson and one from Wayne—are being charged with many offenses related to a string of auto thefts that occurred in various counties in eastern North Carolina.

Joshua Isaiah Hobbs, 24, of Pikeville, Robert Ivon Drake, 31, of Clinton, and Tyvon Malik Thompson, 21, of Turkey, were arrested over the past two weeks and charged with various offenses related to the thefts, according to Sampson Sheriff’s Capt. Marcus Smith.

A warrant accusing Thompson of seven counts of felony larceny of a motor vehicle (Pitt County), one count of criminal conspiracy (Pitt), and one count of felony breaking and entering (Pitt) was served to him after Sampson investigators apprehended him on November 27.

One county criminal possession of a stolen car (Pitt), one county felony breaking and entering (Wake), one count of felony larceny following breaking and entering (Pitt), one count of felony safecracking (Pitt), and one count of felony larceny following

On a $20,000 secured bond, he was being held at the Sampson County Detention Center.

Hobbs was arrested on November 15 and charged with one count of misdemeanor simple possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance (Sampson), one count of misdemeanor possession of a Schedule II controlled substance (Sampson), one count of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia (Sampson), one count of felony probation violation (Wayne), seven counts of felony larceny of a motor vehicle (Pitt), one count of felony conspiracy, and one count of felon

Hobbs has a $126, 000 secured bond and is being held at the Sampson Detention Center.

Drake was taken into custody on November 14 and charged with one count of felony conspiracy and seven counts of felony larceny of a motor vehicle (Pitt).

One county felony possession of a stolen vehicle (Pitt), one felony safecracking count, one felony breaking and entering count, one felony larceny after breaking and entering count, and one felony motor vehicle possession offense (Sampson). He has a $100,000 bond and is being held at the Sampson Detention Centre.

To find and capture people connected to these robberies, investigators have collaborated extensively with various agencies throughout North Carolina, said Capt. Marcus Smith of the Sampson Sheriff’s Department.

He said that more arrests could be made and that the investigation is still ongoing.

Ellis Jachin Wilson, 27, of Jolivet Lane in Faison, was arrested in early November; the three most recent arrests come after his arrest. He was the first to be charged in relation to the auto theft ring on November 8.

After finding a stolen car at a residence on Jackson Lane in Turkey, officers apprehended Wilson there.

Wilson, who was inside the house at the time, was reportedly believed to be armed. To execute the warrant, the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (SERT) was sent out.

Several stolen things from Sampson and other counties were found during a search of the house. Among the items were two cars from dealerships in Pitt County and Raleigh. Another Pitt County stolen car was found close to Newton Grove the following morning.

Detectives reportedly found the Jackson Lane address during a seven-month probe into Wilson that involved 20 separate auto thefts and larcenies across eight counties.

Wilson is being held at the Sampson County Detention Center on a $187,700.00 bond after being served with more than 30 arrest warrants.

Wilson was charged with two charges of felony breaking and entering, two counts of felony larceny after breaking and entering, and one case of misdemeanor refusal to pay with funds owed in Sampson County.

One case of felony breaking and entering of a motor vehicle, one count of felony larceny of a motor vehicle, three charges of felony possession of stolen goods, three counts of misdemeanor possession of stolen goods, and three counts of criminal larceny

Smith said in early November that officers were collaborating with state and local law enforcement agencies to investigate further Wilson-related incidents.

Many hours have been devoted by investigators to tracking these instances and linking them to Ellis. A number of thefts in Sampson County and other jurisdictions will be resolved in part because to this arrest. In November, Smith said, “We are thankful to all other jurisdictions who have also assisted, and we commend investigators for their efforts in this very complex case.”

Call the Sheriff’s Office at 910-592-4141 if you have any information about auto thefts in the area.

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