FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

WEDNESDAY - February 15, 2012

JACKSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA DRUG DEALER SENTENCED

GREENVILLE - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court today Senior United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard sentenced ANTHONY L. MARSHBURN, 42, of Richlands, North Carolina, to 84 months imprisonment followed by five years supervised release. The Court also imposed a fine of $2,500.

On June 7, 2011, a Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment. On September 14, 2011, MARSHBURN pled guilty to possessing with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to the investigation, in July 8, 2010, law enforcement was notified that MARSHBURN was selling cocaine from his residence. On January 13, 2011, a controlled purchase was arranged in which MARSHBURN sold cocaine. A search warrant was quickly obtained and as officers were approaching the residence, MARSHBURN attempted to flee, however, law enforcement quickly apprehended him. Officers located a loaded Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver in the residence. Officers also found powder cocaine, digital scales, a drug ledger and two additional loaded firearms.

This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative 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 Onslow County Sheriff’s Office; and the Jacksonville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jane J. Jackson prosecuted the case.