henderson man sentenced to prison
RALEIGH - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court today EDDIE DESMOND WILLIAMS, 43, of Henderson, North Carolina, was sentenced by United States District Judge Terrence Boyle for his role in possessing ammunition on July 20, 2009. WILLIAMS was sentenced to 420 months’ imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release.
A Federal Grand Jury returned a Superceding Criminal Indictment on January 19, 2011, charging WILLIAMS with possession of ammunition by a felon, in violation of Title 18, Section 922(g). WILLIAMS pleaded guilty to the charge on May 10, 2011.
The investigation revealed that on July 20, 2009, WILLIAMS was found in possession of shotgun ammunition at his residence in Henderson, North Carolina. The ammunition was found pursuant to the execution of a search warrant issued during the investigation of stolen property from another residence. Evidence of relevant conduct presented at sentencing also revealed that WILLIAMS was involved in a shooting at his residence on November 29, 2009. During an argument in the front yard of his residence, WILLIAMS and a juvenile male went to the back of WILLIAMS’ house and retrieved two firearms, at least one of which was a shotgun. WILLIAMS and the juvenile male then returned to the front yard and began firing at four individuals who were located at a vehicle parked in the street. Two of the four men were wounded. One of the gunshot victims called 911 from a ditch while the shooting continued. In that call, he identified WILLIAMS as the shooter and described the firearm as a shotgun. Other witnesses to the shooting also identified WILLIAMS as the shooter and the weapon as a shotgun. Evidence seized from an investigation of the shooting included shotgun shells which matched the same type of ammunition found in WILLIAMS’ residence on July 20, 2009. Evidence at the sentencing also indicated that WILLIAMS had a criminal history which included 36 prior felony convictions.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Henderson Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Rudy E. Renfer represented the government.
