A New York crack cocaine dealer has been arrested on federal charges of killing one of his customers.  The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York charged 59-year old Dwayne Pulliam for the death of 59-year old Lori Campbell of Carmel.  Authorities say he suspected her of stealing drugs from him.  Pulliam was arrested Thursday in New Milford and is being held without bail. 

From at least January, authorities say Pulliam traveled between New York and Connecticut to sell crack cocaine and used multiple phones to do so.  According to court documents, he was seen driving in the New Milford, Danbury and Brookfield areas. 

Campbell’s friends reported her missing April 2nd to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department.  They told police they hadn’t seen nor heard from her since March 27th. Pulliam, who is a manager at a rehabilitation facility, told police that day that she was getting ready to go to a rehabilitation facility, though not his.  Pulliam hadn’t reported to work since March 26th even though he was scheduled. 

Pulliam allegedly contacted a man to help move Campbell’s car and confronted Campbell, but when she tried to leave, he did not let her.  Pulliam told the man he stopped her from screaming and that this was not the first time he had ‘done this,' according to authorities.   He was released from prison in December 2020 after serving about 24 years for murder. 

The two men reportedly dropped Campbell’s car off at the Connecticut Welcome Center in Danbury and went to Pulliam’s Patterson apartment where her body was wrapped in a sheet.  Pulliam allegedly directed the man to help move the body, and threatened to kill his family if he did not comply.  Authorities say they drove her body to Pulliam’s mother’s home in North Carolina and buried her in a shallow grave.  

Law enforcement found Campbell’s body on Tuesday in the area where Pulliam’s co-conspirator said it was buried.

Pulliam was charged with traveling in interstate commerce, and using a facility in interstate commerce, with intent to engage in a business enterprise involving narcotics, and thereafter committing murder to further that unlawful activity, and participating in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 28 grams and more of crack cocaine.  Pulliam faces at least five years in prison for selling crack, and up to life in prison in the death.