FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
TUESDAY - October 6, 2009
MOUNT OLIVE FELON PLEADS GUILTY
RALEIGH - A Mount Olive man who was involved in several shootings has pled guilty in federal court yesterday to a related firearms charge announced United States Attorney George E.B. Holding. Demarlo Tevon Kornegay, 23, pled guilty before Senior United States District Judge W. Earl Britt to unlawful possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.
A Criminal Indictment was returned by a Federal Grand Jury on May 27, 2009.
From December 25, 2007, to May 4, 2009, Kornegay was involved in numerous shootings. His arrest culminated in the May 4, 2009, shooting of a female at a Mount Olive night club. After the shooting, police stopped Kornegay for questioning. During that time he was searched and a spent .380 caliber round was found in his pocket.
Mr. Holding stated, “This defendant is a perfect example of why the Project Safe Neighborhood program is necessary. The defendant, a convicted felon, learned nothing from prosecutors in state court. Now, after several shootings, only one of them on May 4, he is in federal court facing a much stiffer sentence. Thanks to all who have participated in this case and the PSN program.”
The maximum penalty for the charge is up to 10 years imprisonment followed by up to three years and a fine of up to $250,000. If the Court deems Kornegay an Armed Career Criminal, the penalties will be enhanced to up to life imprisonment followed by up to five years of supervised release.
Sentencing is set for January 4, 2010.
This case was part of the 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 this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mount Olive Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jane J. Jackson represented 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.
