FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MONDAY - March 30, 2009
FAYETTEVILLE MAN PLEADS TO ILLEGAL DRUG AND FIREARM CHARGES
RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court here today LONNIE EDWARD RUSSELL, 27, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, pled guilty before United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle to possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) and unlawful possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).
A Federal Grand Jury returned a Superseding Criminal Indictment on March 18, 2009. On November 20, 2007, and again on November 26, 2007, Fayetteville Police conducted a controlled purchase of powder cocaine from RUSSELL. On November 28, 2007, a search warrant was executed. Officers seized a loaded Taurus .44 caliber revolver, a loaded Taurus .22 caliber pistol and powder cocaine.
The maximum penalty for possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine is up to 20 years imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1,000,000. As an Armed Career Criminal, for the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, RUSSELL faces a maximum term of imprisonment of up to a lifetime.
Sentencing has been set for the July 6, 2009, term of court.
Mr. Holding commented: “I want to compliment the investigators in this matter. Their investigation is another piece in the puzzle as we attempt to fight drug traffickers in the Eastern District.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods 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 the Fayetteville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Rudolph E. Renfer 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.
