FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

THURSDAY - October 16, 2008

FAYETTEVILLE MAN RECEIVES 10 YEARS FOR BEING AN ARMED FELON

NEW BERN - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court on October 14, 2008, Chief United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced TRAVIS ELIJAH FREEMAN, 31, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, to 120 months’ imprisonment followed by 3 years supervised release.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on July 26, 2006. On June 10, 2008, FREEMAN pled guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. On December 19, 2005, while executing a search warrant for an outstanding state probation violation on the residence of another individual, officers observed a vehicle approaching the residence in the distance. The vehicle, being driven by FREEMAN, turned into a nearby drive way and moved behind the adjacent house to avoid being seen. The officers immediately drove to where the vehicle had turned off and pulled behind that vehicle. Officers saw FREEMAN with the passenger door open, leaning out of the vehicle, while appearing to throw something away. FREEMAN quickly shut the door and moved the vehicle up about five feet. Officers instructed him to stop moving. When the vehicle was moved backwards, a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol was found on the ground. A search of the vehicle revealed a partially full box of 9mm Winchester ammunition.

Mr. Holding commented: “This is another step in our effort to remove armed felons from our communities. Thanks to alert officers who were in the area performing their duties in another matter, but observed this defendant’s behavior and stopped to investigate. As the result of their efforts, another armed felon is off the street for 10 years.”

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Eric Evenson 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.