FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

THURSDAY - July 9, 2009

FAYETTEVILLE MAN SENTENCED FOR

UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A FIREARM

NEW BERN - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court today Chief United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan, sentenced ERIC KELSEY JOHNSON, 32, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, to 71 months’ imprisonment followed by three years supervised release.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on December 18, 2008. On April 8, 2009, JOHNSON pled guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

On April 26, 2008, law enforcement performed a traffic stop on the vehicle driven by JOHNSON. A search of the vehicle was performed and a .22 caliber handgun was located under a child-seat secured in the backseat.

JOHNSON’s previous felonious convictions include four counts of possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver cocaine and one count of possession of cocaine.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Fayetteville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Ethan Ontjes 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.