CLINTON, N.C. (WNCN) — A raid on a Sampson County home in connection with 20 separate car thefts across eight North Carolina counties led to the seizure of at least two luxury vehicles and the arrest of a Faison man on several charges, deputies said.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for a home on Jackson Lane in Turkey after spotting a stolen car on the property, according to a press release from the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday.

Deputies said they believed the suspect may have been armed, so the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team executed the warrant and raided the area on Friday, Nov. 8.

During the search, deputies found two vehicles stolen from auto dealerships in Raleigh and Pitt Counties, the news release said. Another vehicle stolen from Pitt County was found the next day in Newton Grove.

Deputies told CBS 17 that the stolen cars found included a Porsche SUV and an Audi sedan.

“A seven-month investigation involving 20 separate auto thefts and robberies across eight counties led officers to the residence,” deputies said in the statement.

More than 30 arrest warrants were issued for Ellis Jachin Wilson, 27, of Faison, deputies said.

Authorities said they are now investigating more cases linked to Wilson and are even working with other states.

“Investigators devoted a significant amount of time tracking these incidents and connecting them to Ellis,” Sampson County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Marcus Smith said in the release. “This arrest will begin to put an end to many of the burglaries in Sampson County and other jurisdictions.”

MPs said some of the more serious charges against Wilson include:

• 2 counts of breaking and entering – Sampson County

• 2 counts of felony larceny after breaking and entering – Sampson County

• 3 counts of possession of stolen property – Sampson County

• 1 count of breaking and entering of a motor vehicle – Sampson County.

• 1 count felony theft of a motor vehicle – Sampson County

• 1 count of felony theft – Sampson County.

• 3 counts of felony possession of a stolen motor vehicle – Sampson County.

• 2 counts of possession of a weapon of mass destruction – Sampson County

• 1 count of felony breaking and entering – Pitt County.

• 1 count of felony burglary after breaking and entering – Pitt County

• 1 count of felony safecracking – Pitt County

• 7 counts of motor vehicle theft – Pitt County

• 1 count felony conspiracy – Pitt County

• 1 felony count of possession of a stolen motor vehicle – Pitt County

Wilson is being held in the Sampson County Detention Center on $187,700 bail, with a court date scheduled for Nov. 22, Smith said.

“The investigators are to be commended for their hard work on this very complex case, and we are grateful to all the other jurisdictions that assisted,” Smith said.

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