Durham Man Arrested in Raleigh Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

NEW BERN – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, John Stuart Bruce, announces that today in federal court, United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced DWIGHT CHRISTOPHER BROWN, 33, of Durham, to 120 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. On February 14, 2017, BROWN was found guilty by a jury of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

At trial the evidence showed that on January 19, 2016, a woman contacted the Durham Police Department and reported that her vehicle was stolen. She told officers that she previously allowed her ex-boyfriend, DWIGHT CHRISTOPHER BROWN, to use her vehicle during their relationship. On January 4, 2016, BROWN was supposed to pick her up from work; however, he did not show, and he had not returned any of her phone calls or texts.

On March 3, 2016, officers with the Raleigh Police Department, attempted to conduct a traffic stop on BROWN, who was driving the stolen vehicle. BROWN slowed and sped up several times before slowing down to almost a stop. BROWN then jumped out of the vehicle and fled the scene as the vehicle continued to roll forward until a passenger, placed the vehicle in park. While pursuing BROWN, the officer observed him carrying a handgun. During the pursuit, another officer observed BROWN unsuccessfully attempt to load a round into the chamber of the pistol. BROWN then threw the pistol next to a Waffle House and continued to flee the scene. While in pursuit, BROWN ran across the road with oncoming traffic causing the officers to run parallel to BROWN until a break in traffic allowed them to cross safely. The pursuing officer yelled at BROWN to stop, after which BROWN laid down on the sidewalk. When additional law enforcement officers arrived, they placed BROWN into custody for possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a stolen gun, possession of a firearm by felon, and resisting arrest.

Officers then retrieved a .40 caliber handgun that was reported stolen from the perimeter of the Waffle House and next to BROWN’s shoe that he lost during the foot chase. During a search of the vehicle, officers found multiple items that belonged to BROWN.

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.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and the Raleigh Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Peggah B. Wilson and Jacob Pugh are handling the case on behalf of the government.