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Press Release

Durham Men Plead Guilty To Federal Firearm Felonies

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of North Carolina

GREENVILLE - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court today JASON LEMAR MEDLYN, 31, of Durham, North Carolina and IRESHIA DONTE SUMMERS aka ERIC SUMMERS, 35, also of Durham, North Carolina pled guilty before United States Magistrate Judge Robert B. Jones, Jr. to several firearms related charges.

MEDLYN and SUMMERS bothpled guilty to one count each of Conspiracy, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, section 371; Possession of Firearms in a School Zone and aiding and abetting, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, sections 922(q)(2)(A) and 924 and 2; and Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924.

According to the investigation, on May 31, 2012,  MEDLYN and SUMMERS broke into two residences in Granville County and stole, among other things, personal property, firearms and ammunition. The defendants were discovered while still at the second residence by a Granville County Sheriff’s Deputy responding to a call regarding a residential break in.  Two males, later identified as MEDLYN and SUMMERS, jumped into a vehicle and sped away.  The passenger in the fleeing vehicle fired shots at the pursuing deputy.  A North Carolina State Highway Patrolman picked up the chase and the passenger also fired shots at the trooper. 

During the chase the car hit mailboxes and stopped near an auto dealership and a garage.  Three guns were found near the vehicle along with a stolen television, nooks, and jewelry.  The defendants traveled through two school zones with firearms during the chase.

MEDLYN and SUMMERS face a maximum sentence of 240 months imprisonment along with three years of supervised release at sentencing.  They are expected to be sentenced during the October 8, 2013 term of court by Senior United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard.

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 Granville County Sheriff’s Office, the Durham Police Department, North Carolina Highway Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney S. Katherine Burnette prosecuted the case.

Updated July 14, 2015