FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

TUESDAY - February 24, 2009

NEW BERN - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court on February 4, 2009, Chief United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced ASHONTA BUSH, 34, of Conway, North Carolina, to 240 months’ imprisonment followed by 10 years of supervised release.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on June 11, 2008. On October 6, 2008, BUSH pled guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack) and 500 grams or more of cocaine. According to investigative reports, on August 17, 2007, the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office received information that Bush, whose driver’s license was revoked, was operating a motor vehicle. The vehicle was located and a traffic stop was made. As the deputy was waiting for a dispatcher to run a license check, he noticed BUSH reach into the rear seat and then run from the car into a nearby wooded area carrying several plastic bags. The deputy pursued and saw BUSH run to an abandoned car and reach underneath it. BUSH was apprehended and after the arrival of backup officers, several plastic bags containing 30.4 grams of crack, 111.5 grams of cocaine, baking soda, plastic bags and scales were found. Inside BUSH’ vehicle, officers found over $56,000 in a plastic bag similar to those found beneath the abandoned vehicle.

Mr. Holding commented: "The evidence against Mr. Bush established that from 2005 to 2008, Mr. Bush was responsible for the distribution of kilogram-quantities of cocaine and cocaine base. Thus, this case has disrupted an important drug distribution outlet in Hertford County."

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney J. Frank Bradsher 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.