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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

WEDNESDAY - APRIL 26, 2006

RALEIGH MAN SENTENCED TO 24 YEARS IN PRISON

WILMINGTON – On Monday, April 24, 2006, Senior United States District Court Judge James C. Fox sentenced JAMES CARTER McLEAN, 29, of Raleigh, North Carolina, to a 294 month (24.5 year) prison term for possession of a firearm. McLEAN pled guilty to the charge on January 13, 2006.

McLEAN received a sentencing enhancement as an armed career criminal based upon his lengthy criminal history and prior similar conduct. McLEAN, had been paroled from state prison in August of 2004, after serving time for a conviction of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. McLEAN’S previous criminal record also includes breaking and entering and several charges of possession of cocaine with intent to sell and/or deliver.

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Raleigh Police Department in conjunction with local Project Safe Neighborhoods program. Assistant U. S. Attorney Felice McConnell Corpening prosecuted the case for the United States.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.