FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

TUESDAY - January 29, 2008

WILSON MAN SENTENCED TO 115 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR
BEING A FELON IN POSSESSION OF A FIREARM

WILMINGTON - United States Attorney George E. B. Holding announced that on Wednesday, January 23, 2008, in federal court Senior United States District Judge James C. Fox sentenced TRAVIS LAMONT SPEIGHT, 27, of Wilson, North Carolina, to 115 months’ imprisonment, 3 years supervised release, and imposed a fine of $5,400.00.

A federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on August 2, 2007. On October 16, 2007, SPEIGHT pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On February 25, 2007, a victim reported to police that SPEIGHT had stolen the victim’s Cobray M-11 9mm semi-automatic handgun. Officers located SPEIGHT at a residence in Wilson, North Carolina, and found the firearm. SPEIGHT is a multi-convicted felon whose violations include voluntary manslaughter and first degree robbery.

Three years ago Wilson Police set out to address violent crimes in the city following several deaths of young adults within a short period of time. A Juvenile/Gang Investigative Unit was established and a closer involvement with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the United States Attorney’s Office has led to prosecutions, such as this, of career violent offenders through the federal courts.

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives and the Wilson Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jane Jackson served as prosecutor 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.