FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

TUESDAY - January 8, 2008

WILSON MAN SENTENCED TO 225 MONTHS IN PRISON

RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E. B. Holding announced that in federal court United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced LINWOOD BATTS, JR., 35, of Wilson, North Carolina, to 225 months’ imprisonment, 5 years supervised release and imposed a $200.00 special assessment.

BATTS was charged by Criminal Indictment on March 7, 2007. On June 4, 2007, BATTS pled guilty to the charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Based on BATTS’ extensive criminal history and the circumstances of the offenses, the government filed a motion for upward departure. The Court granted the motion and doubled the 84-month mandatory minimum for the firearm offense.

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Wilson Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Eric Goulian was prosecution 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.