FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

THURSDAY - January 21, 2010

CONVICTED FELON RECEIVES FEDERAL PRISON TIME

FOR UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A FIREARM

RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court today United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced JEFFREY WINSTON LEWIS, 49, of Bladenboro, North Carolina, to 33 months’ imprisonment followed by three years supervised release.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on July 9, 2009. On October 20, 2009, pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

In July, 2008, while on state probation, several complaints were received that illegal drugs were being sold and firearms were being discharged from LEWIS’ Bladenboro residence. A search of the residence was conducted on July 29, 2009. Recovery of a stolen handgun resulted from the search.

This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program 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; the North Carolina Division of Community Corrections and the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office. 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.