Scotland County Residents Sentenced

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Ripley Rand, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina, announced the results in three recent federal prosecutions involving offenders from Scotland County, North Carolina.

On December 13, 2012, United States District Judge Thomas D. Schroeder sentenced MICHAEL WAYNE HILL, 54, of Laurinburg to 63 months in prison and three years of supervised release.  Hill pled guilty on September 5, 2012 to both counts of a federal indictment charging him with possessing crack cocaine with the intent to distribute it and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Information from Hill’s guilty plea and sentencing hearings reflected that on June 11, 2011, officers with the Scotland County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Hill’s apartment in Laurinburg as the result of an undercover purchase of drugs there.  That search yielded 7 grams of crack cocaine, individually wrapped in 15 plastic baggies, and a loaded .32 caliber S&W revolver. Hill illegally possessed the revolver after previously being convicted of felonies in 2006. 

On December 14, 2012, Judge Schroeder sentenced DEQUAN FITZGERALD HENDERSON, age 25, of Laurinburg to 57 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. Henderson pled guilty on September 5, 2012 to possessing the twelve rounds of ammunition after having been convicted of a felony. Henderson had prior felony convictions from 2004 and 2009. 

On December 13, 2012, Judge Schroeder also sentenced TITUS TYRONE REDDICK, age 32, of Laurinburg to 105 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release. Information from Reddick’s September 5, 2012 guilty plea and his December 13, 2012 sentencing indicated that on August 26, 2011 Reddick possessed a .380 caliber semiautomatic pistol. Reddick had a prior felony conviction from 2004.

U.S. Attorney Rand commended the efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, as well as officers with the Laurinburg Police Department and Scotland County Sheriff’s Office. “Our office places top priority on combating gun and violent crime, and our success in these cases is a direct result of our close partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement,” Rand stated. “We will continue to work closely with the Laurinburg Police Department, the Scotland County Sheriff’s Department, the office of District Attorney Kristy Newton, and other federal, state, and local law enforcement to prosecute felons, domestic violence offenders, and others who possess guns and ammunition illegally and to make our communities safer for all.” 

Laurinburg Interim Police Chief Kimothy Monroe added, “Convicted felons in Laurinburg are on notice that this office is working hard with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Scotland County District Attorney’s office to prevent violent crimes, especially those committed by convicted felons with guns.  We plan to keep in communication with both offices to ensure that gun cases have the highest priority.” 

Scotland County Sheriff Shep Jones noted, “We look forward to working with federal authorities to make sure that federal prosecutors have what they need to pursue federal criminal charges for violent crimes committed in Scotland County.  Guns in the hands of felons and other prohibited persons are unacceptable.”