Spring Lake Man Sentenced For Federal Firearms Violations

GREENVILLE - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court yesterday, Senior United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard sentenced AL TYRONE HILL, 37, of Spring Lake, North Carolina, to 108 months imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release. HILL also was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and a $100.00 special assessment.

On July 10, 2013, HILL pled guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1) and 924.

According to the investigation, on May 20, 2012, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to several emergency calls regarding the threatened use of a firearm by HILL.  HILL fled the house prior to the Deputies arrival and could not be found.  Later, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office received another emergency call and Deputies again dispatched to the victim’s home. HILL was located in the home and a subsequent search of his person revealed two shotgun shells in his pants pocket.  Deputies also located a sawed-off shotgun in the bedroom.  HILL previously had been convicted of multiple felony offenses.

This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney, S. Katherine Burnette prosecuted the case.