RALEIGH - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court today JOHN MOORE, 22, was convicted of carjacking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a federal crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c).  Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever III, presided over the two-day trial.  Yesterday, MOORE, pled guilty to the third count of the December 14, 2010, Indictment which charged felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).

     According to evidence presented at trial, on March 1, 2010, MOORE broke into a residence in Evergreen, North Carolina.  The victim arrived home with the victim’s two-year-old grandchild, parking in the driveway.  The victim left the grandchild in the car and approached the residence.  The door frame was broken and the door had been opened.  As the victim entered the residence, MOORE was observed inside the home.  MOORE forced the victim to the ground at gunpoint, putting a gun to the victim’s head, he then dragged the victim around the home by the hair, pulling the victim into a bedroom and duct-taping the victim’s hands and face.  MOORE demanded money and the victim told MOORE the money was in the car.  MOORE dragged the victim outside and they encountered the family dog.  At that point, MOORE shot and killed the dog and dragged the victim back inside the house.  MOORE then threw the victim into a closet and ordered the victim not to leave.  A few minutes later, MOORE opened the door and put the grandchild inside the closet with the victim.  The victim could hear MOORE going room to room.  Before he left, MOORE threatened to kill the victim and the family.  The victim waited for about 30 minutes and then came out and saw that the family car was gone.  MOORE had also stolen cash and other items from the victim’s home.

At sentencing, MOORE faces up to 15 years imprisonment for the carjacking, up to a life-term of imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence charge, and up to 10 years imprisonment for the possession of a firearm by a felon charge.  If MOORE is deemed an Armed Career Criminal under Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(e), he faces up to a life-term of imprisonment.

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 and the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorneys Jane J. Jackson and Toby Lathan prosecuted the case.

 

 

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