United States Attorney Leura G. Canary Middle District of Alabama

NORTH CAROLINA COUPLE SENTENCED IN FIREARMS PROSECUTION

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA— Demetria Murphy and Courtney Casey, of North Carolina, entered guilty pleas at trial on October 9, 2007, to knowingly possessing firearms after having been convicted of felony offenses. On April 16, 2008, U.S. District Judge W. Harold Albritton sentenced Casey to 37 months imprisonment, 3 years supervised release and a $100 special assessment fee and sentenced Murphy to 48 months imprisonment, 3 years supervised release and a $100 special assessment fee, announced U.S. Attorney Leura Canary.

The investigation of the case began when agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were called to the 165 mile marker of Interstate 65 on December 21, 2005, by Alabama State Trooper Shawn Loughridge who had stopped to give assistance to three stranded motorists, Murphy, Casey and Perez Mann. The vehicle, driven by Murphy, had broken down while the three were returning from a trip from Atlanta, GA. While assisting the motorists, Trooper Loughridge observed 2 shotguns in the rear cargo area of the vehicle, one of which was a sawed-off shotgun with a modified handle wrapped in duct tape. The three were arrested and it was discovered that all three had prior convictions for drug trafficking offenses, including distribution of controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. All three were charged with a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1), a federal statute which makes it illegal for convicted felons to possess firearms.

The third defendant in this case, Perez Allen Mann, has entered guilty pleas to violations of federal firearms statutes and is expected to be sentenced by Judge Albritton on May 28, 2008. Mann faces a sentence of not more than 10 years incarceration, not more than 3 years supervised release, not more that $250,000 in fine, and an assessment fee of $300.00.

This case was investigated by the Alabama Department of Public Safety, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Susan Redmond.