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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Monday, December 11, 2006

DEFENDANT WHO DISCHARGED FIREARM AT ENTRY TEAM
RECEIVES 228 MONTHS IMPRISONMENT

RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E. B. Holding announced that PAUL LONDON NEWKIRK, 29, of Warsaw, North Carolina, was sentenced today by the Honorable W. Earl Britt, Senior United States District Court Judge. NEWKIRK was sentenced to a total imprisonment of 228 months to be followed by 5 years supervised release. In addition, NEWKIRK was order to a $10,900 fine and $200 special assessment.

NEWKIRK pled guilty on September 5, 2006 to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute more than 5 grams of crack cocaine and to discharging a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense. On November 22, 2005, NEWKIRK shot at officers during a law enforcement entry into a residence.

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods Program, the U. S. Department of Justice’s national initiative to reduce gun crime. Assistant U. S. Attorney Banumathi Rangarajan handled the case 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.