Armed Career Criminal Enhancement - Snow Hill Man Sentenced For Possession Of Firearm By A Felon

WILMINGTON - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court today Senior United States District Judge James C. Fox sentenced EZEKIEL DONJA GARDNER, 33,of Snow Hill, North Carolina, to 262 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised released for possession of firearm by a convicted felon.  GARDNER was convicted during a jury trial on October 15, 2013.    

On January 13, 2011, the Farmville Police Department stopped a car being driven by GARDNER after receiving information from an informant that GARDNER was in possession of a firearm.  Officers found a 9 millimeter pistol in the car after GARDNER admitted to having a firearm underneath the driver’s seat.  GARDNER was prohibited from possessing the firearm due to his prior state felony convictions, including three counts of common law robbery, three counts of breaking and entering, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and malicious conduct by a prisoner.  GARDNER’S sentence was enhanced under the provisions of the Armed Career Criminal Act based on these convictions. 

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Farmville Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Greenville Police Department. The federal prosecution was handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney Glenn Perry.  Mr. Perry is a prosecutor with the Pitt County District Attorney’s Office.  Pitt County District Attorney Kimberly Robb has assigned Mr. Perry to the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force criminal matters.  Mr. Perry’s assignment to the United States Attorney’s Office has been made possible by grants funded by the Governor’s Crime Commission.