FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

TUESDAY - April 8, 2008

PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED FELON RECEIVES 188 MONTHS IN PRISON
FOR FIREARM POSSESSION

RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that yesterday in federal court Senior United States District Judge W. Earl Britt sentenced JOHN CLYDE BRITT, JR., 53, of Saint Pauls, North Carolina, to 188 months’ imprisonment and three years supervised release following his term of confinement.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on July 13, 2006.On December 11, 2006, BRITT pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On October 14, 2005, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team (SRT) members arrived at BRITT’s residence to execute a search warrant. BRITT answered the door, pointing an assault rifle with a banana clip magazine at the deputies. A member of the team identified himself and instructed BRITT to lower the weapon. When BRITT failed to follow instruction and continued pointing his weapon, fearing for his own safety and those of his team members, the SRT member shot BRITT. The search revealed a ROM ARM/CUGIR Model ROMAK 7.62 X 39mm caliber semi-automatic rifle, along with various amounts of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

BRITT has numerous felony convictions that include, possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, selling and delivering cocaine, escape from the North Carolina Department of Corrections, and possession with intent to manufacture and sell and deliver marijuana.

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office; and the Fayetteville Police Department.

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