FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
THURSDAY - January 15, 2009
FAYETTEVILLE FELON RECEIVES SENTENCE
RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court here on January 13, 2008, United States District Judge James C. Dever, III, sentenced CLIFTON TERELLE MCNEILL, 33, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, to 320 months’ imprisonment followed by five years supervised release.
A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on January 2, 2008. On August 18, 2008, MCNEILL pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. On February 28, 2007, while on patrol, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Deputies observed a pickup driving unusually slowly. The occupants appeared to be looking for something. The pickup pulled into the drive-through of a restaurant. Deputies pulled in behind the pickup to better see the pickup’s license plate, but as they pulled in, the pickup pulled out. Deputies followed the vehicle while awaiting a response from dispatch on the vehicle registration. The pickup ran a red light and law enforcement performed a traffic stop. The driver, MCNEILL, refused to stop and a pursuit ensued. Other officers joined in the chase. When the pickup finally came to a stop, the three occupants jumped out and fled on foot. MCNEILL was apprehended after a short foot chase and was found in possession of two clear plastic bags which contained 3.1 grams of crack cocaine. Upon assisting MCNEILL up from the ground, a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver was discovered on top of the pressed grass. MCNEILL has a significant number of prior felonies.
Investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation; and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Yvonne Watford-McKinney served as prosecutor for the government.
News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.
