Grifton Man Sentenced After Conviction of Firearms Offense

RALEIGH – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that today, DEFONTE KENTRIAL WILLIAMS, 25, of Grifton, was sentenced by United States Senior District Judge W. Earl Britt for possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.  Judge Britt sentenced WILLIAMS to 68 months’ imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release. 

WILLIAMS was charged in a one-count indictment on July 11, 2017, and pled guilty to one count on July 9, 2018. 

On January 2, 2017, WILLIAMS and an associate decided to purchase marijuana in Pitt County, North Carolina. During the purchase, a dispute arose. WILLIAMS seized a firearm and pointed it at one of the dealers, and chased that person into a field at gunpoint. WILLIAMS then robbed the dealer of marijuana at gunpoint.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Raleigh Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).  Assistant United States Attorney Erin Blondel handled the prosecution of this case for the government.