Armed Career Criminal Sentenced To 180 Months For Weapons And Drugs Charges

WILIMINGTON - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court on July 2, 2013 JOHN ALBRITTON, 64, of Chocowinity,, North Carolina, was sentenced by Senior United States District Judge James C. Fox to 180 months imprisonment and five years of supervised release for one count of Possession of Firearms and Ammunition by a Felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924 and two counts of Distributing a Quantity of Cocaine Base (Crack), in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1).  In addition, the Court Ordered the Forfeiture of three shotguns and ammunition and one rifle.

On March 8, 2013 ALBRITTON was found guilty, following a three day trial in Wilmington, North Carolina of distributing a quantify of cocaine base (crack) on June 2, 2010 and May 25, 2010 and of possessing four firearms and ammunition on June 4, 2010. 

After a joint investigation conducted by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) in Washington, North Carolina and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in Wilmington, North Carolina, law enforcement established that ALBRITTON operated an illicit business, Lil’ John’s Club, from a building adjacent to his residence.  At the club, patrons purchased alcohol and drugs from ALBRITTON, activity which dated from early 2008 and included numerous citizen complaints to BCSO for noise ordinance violations and assaults.

Assistant United States Attorney Thomas B. Murphy prosecuted the case.