JACKSON – Federal agents were expected to arrive here yesterday (Monday) to take a Garysburg man, arrested Friday night, into custody.

Shawn Edward Robinson, 31, was being held without bond in the Northampton County Jail as he waited for the U.S. Marshall’s Office to arrive. Prior to his arrest, Robinson, who resides at 215 Blythe Road near Garysburg, had been the subject of a six-month investigation for trafficking in illegal drugs. Sheriff Offices in both Northampton and Halifax counties along with ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms), a part of the United States Department of Justice, had worked undercover on this case since late February.

&uot;Once we learned that Mr. Robinson was apparently using firearms in connection with the sale of drugs, we brought ATF in on the case,&uot; said Northampton County Sheriff Wardie Vincent. &uot;This was a great effort by all three agencies to put this case together.&uot;

A search of Robinson’s home proved correct the assumption by law enforcement officers concerning the weapons. Inside the residence, lawmen used a search warrant to locate two handguns – a .380 caliber and a .357 caliber. Also seized from the home was $9,029 in currency along with a Nissan 200 SX passenger vehicle.

In the federal warrant, Robinson was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, distribution and sale of marijuana and using, carrying and possessing a firearm during drug trafficking.

&uot;We consider Mr. Robinson as one of our area’s major drug traffickers,&uot; noted Sheriff Vincent. &uot;He was involved in the illegal sale of drugs in both Northampton and Halifax counties.&uot;

Vincent went on to say that the undercover operation yielded several &uot;drug buys&uot; from Robinson, including one involving 250 grams of marijuana.

The Sheriff also praised citizens in Robinson’s neighborhood who passed along vital information concerning what appeared to them as illegal drug trafficking.

&uot;The information the citizens passed along to us was crucial in putting this case together,&uot; concluded the Sheriff. &uot;They have the same desire that we do and that’s to take these people off the streets and return these communities and neighborhoods to the law-abiding citizens.&uot;

Other charges are pending against Robinson.