Raleigh Man Sentenced to 71 Months for Firearms Trafficking and Prison Violence

A Raleigh man has been sentenced to 71 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to firearms trafficking and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.

Dwight Daniel Hinton, 34, admitted to trafficking firearms on November 3, 2023. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Hinton was involved in the illegal distribution of firearms in New York, using a straw purchaser to acquire guns from licensed dealers, which he then sold to others.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) conducted an investigation into Hinton’s activities, using a confidential informant to purchase three firearms, including an AR-15 rifle capable of being converted into a machine gun.

While in custody, Hinton was recorded discussing a $20,000 murder-for-hire plot and was involved in violent incidents within correctional facilities. He assaulted two inmates, one at Pamlico Correctional Institution and another at Pitt County Detention Center, while also being found in possession of a homemade weapon.

Hinton has a lengthy criminal history with eight prior felony convictions, including multiple charges related to firearms, robbery, and assault.