Man Who Shot At Wilmington Police Officer Sentenced To 420 Months In Federal Prison

RALEIGH – United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced today that in federal court, Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever III sentenced JERMAINE CORDOVA , 38, Council, North Carolina, to 420 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release.

JERMAINE CORDOVA was named in an Indictment filed on August 21, 2013; charging him with Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Felon.  On March 26, 2014, CORDOVA pled guilty to this charge. 

According to the investigation, on January 2, 2013, CORDOVA contacted a female stripper and asked her to strip for the victim in this case for $500.00.  The female agreed and set up the meeting at her apartment via text message.  Upon the victim’s arrival, CORDOVA, along with a male co-conspirator, ambushed the victim, shooting him in the leg.  The victim fell to the ground and was shot at least four more times by CORDOVA and/or the co-conspirator.  The victim identified CORDOVA as one of the shooters.

On January 29, 2013, a traffic stop was conducted by the Wilmington Police Department on a vehicle occupied by CORDOVA and the co-conspirator.  An officer approached the stopped vehicle and asked CORDOVA, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, if he had anything on his person.  CORDOVA surrendered a bag containing 12.85 grams of marijuana.  CORDOVA’s left arm was restrained with a handcuff as he sat in the vehicle.  CORDOVA then became upset and pulled out a loaded semi-automatic pistol, pointed it at the officer, and fired a shot.  The officer returned fire missing CORDOVA.  CORDOVA then began to flee on foot and ran into a second officer on the scene.  CORDOVA raised his firearm at this officer and the officer fired, striking CORDOVA in the left leg.  CORDOVA continued to flee and barricaded himself inside a storage building.

Police were forced to break down the door and found CORDOVA inside holding a firearm to his head.  After several hours, CORDOVA finally came to the door of the storage building and put down his firearm.  CORDOVA was immediately taken into custody and transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Wilmington Police Department along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).  Special Assistant United States Attorney Charity Wilson represented the government.  Ms. Wilson is a prosecutor with the District 5 District Attorney’s Office encompassing New Hanover and Pender Counties.  District Attorney Ben David has assigned her to the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute violent crime, firearm related cases, and narcotic crimes.