A jury has found Dwayne Pulliam, a resident of Carmel, New York, guilty of Travel Act murder and narcotics offenses. The verdict was delivered after a one-week trial before U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern in the Southern District of New York.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton stated, “In Carmel, New York, Dwayne Pulliam, a local drug dealer and employee of a drug rehabilitation center who had previously been convicted of and served over two decades for murder, killed one of his customers—Lori Lynn Campbell—whom he suspected of stealing crack cocaine from his business, and then drove her body to North Carolina, where he buried her in a shallow grave in the woods. With its verdict, the jury has held Pulliam responsible for Campbell’s murder, as well as for the harm that he sowed in both New York and Connecticut with his shameless dealing of crack and heroin. This should serve as a lesson: if you commit a crime—if you commit a murder—law enforcement will pursue you relentlessly, and the career prosecutors of this Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to investigating and prosecuting these righteous cases. If any member of the public has information that they wish to share with us about any unsolved murder, then we encourage you to come forward.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Pulliam had an extensive criminal record dating back to 1981 with convictions including breaking and entering, assault on a female, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, possession of firearms by a felon, trafficking cocaine, hit-and-run offenses in North Carolina, as well as intentional murder in New York for which he served 15 years to life before being released on lifetime parole in December 2020.
After leaving prison, Pulliam worked at a drug rehabilitation facility while distributing crack cocaine in both New York and Connecticut. He paid some customers with drugs instead of money or used them as workers.
On March 28, 2022, Lori Lynn Campbell was at Pulliam’s apartment when he accused her of stealing crack cocaine. After confronting her when she tried to leave and scream for help, Pulliam strangled her. He later told another customer that he “stopped her from screaming.” He enlisted another customer’s help by offering drugs and threatening their family to move Campbell’s body. They transported her remains to North Carolina where Pulliam buried her in the woods.
Pulliam continued selling drugs until his arrest.
Pulliam was convicted on charges including Travel Act murder (which carries up to life imprisonment), conspiracy to distribute heroin and significant amounts of crack cocaine (also carrying up to life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence), and distribution charges (with up to 20 years imprisonment). Sentencing will be determined by the judge.
U.S. Attorney Clayton commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Putnam County Sheriff’s Office for their work on this case along with support from police departments in Danbury (Connecticut), Connecticut State Police, Alamance County (North Carolina) Sheriff’s Office, and Caswell County (North Carolina) Police Department.
The prosecution was managed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Maimin and T. Josiah Pertz from the White Plains Division.
