FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

WEDNESDAY - December 15, 2010

PARKTON DRUG DEALER RECEIVES FEDERAL PRISON

GREENVILLE - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court today United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard sentenced JAMES JULIUS TAYLOR, 30, of Parkton, North Carolina, to 180 months’ imprisonment followed by five years’ supervised release.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on April 8, 2010. On June 8, 2010, TAYLOR pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base (crack) and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. According to the investigation, on May 2, 2009, a Parkton police officer performed a traffic stop on the vehicle driven by TAYLOR. When the officer approached the vehicle he smelled a strong odor of marijuana. The defendant admitted to possessing marijuana when asked and, after handing the officer three grams of marijuana, tried to flee the area. However, the officer apprehended TAYLOR and during a search of TAYLOR, the officer found a loaded .22 caliber revolver, a loaded .45 caliber handgun, and $1,518. Upon searching TAYLOR’s vehicle, 51.2 grams of crack cocaine were discovered.

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