Federal Inmate Sentenced to 30 Months for Possessing a Weapon in Butner Prison

RALEIGH, N.C. – An inmate housed at the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, North Carolina (“FCC Butner”) was sentenced yesterday to 30 months of incarceration for possessing weapons inside the federal prison.

According to court documents, Gerald Wayne Timms, 59, was found by Federal Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”) staff to be in possession of multiple homemade sharpened objects on two separate occasions in May, 2019 and again in September, 2019.  BOP staff found the weapons inside Timms’ assigned cell during routine searches.  Timms was charged by way of a two count indictment for violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1791, possession of contraband in prison.  On February 19, 2020, a jury found Timms guilty of both counts.  Timms received 30 months on each count to be served concurrently. 

Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. BOP Special Investigative Services investigated the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mallory Brooks Storus, Genna D. Petre, and Michael Bredenberg  prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:19-cr-00428-FL.

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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.