FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

WEDNESDAY - January 7, 2009

GREENVILLE FELON SENTENCED FOR FIREARM POSSESSION

WILMINGTON - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court today Senior United States District Judge James C. Fox sentenced MAURICE RAYMOND JOHNSTON, 42, of Greenville, North Carolina, to 87 months’ imprisonment followed by three years supervised release.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on December 12, 2007. On June 9, 2008, JOHNSTON pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. On November 9, 2006, a vehicle backing out of a driveway almost collided with a Greenville Police Department patrol car. At the next intersection, officers approached the car, being driven by JOHNSTON, that had almost hit them. Officers asked JOHNSTON for his driver’s license and when he pulled out his wallet, a baggie with what officers believed to be cocaine residue fell out. Officers moved the patrol car behind JOHNSTON’S and as a traffic stop was being called in, JOHNSTON ran from his car, a foot chase ensuing. JOHNSTON was apprehended and a search of his vehicle returned a Norinco SKS assault rifle.

Mr. Holding commented: “Police officers never know when they will encounter convicted felons and those involved with drugs. Here what seemed to be a routine traffic issue revealed an armed convicted felon in the possession of drugs. We commend the work of these officers.”

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Greenville Police Department. Special Assistant United States Attorney Glenn Perry was the assigned Prosecutor.Mr. Perry is a prosecutor with the Pitt County District Attorney’s Office.District Attorney Clark Everett has assigned him to the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force criminal matters.This has been made possible by a grant funded by the Governor’s Crime Commission.

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