Williamston Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Felon in Possession Charge

RALEIGH – Robert J. Higdon, Jr., the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina announces today, that Senior United States District Malcolm J. Howard sentenced ANTONIO CLARENCE DAUGHTRIDGE 33, of Williamston to 120 months’ imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised released, and a $2,500 fine.

On November 21, 2017, DAUGHTRIDGE was named in a Six-Count Second Superseding Indictment that was returned by a federal grand jury sitting in the Eastern District of North Carolina.  DAUGHTRIDGE was charged with possession with intent to distribute a quantity of 3-4 methlylenedioxymethemphetamine and a quantity of cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon and one count of possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base (crack). On December 3, 2018, DAUGHTRIDGE pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. 

On March 8, 2015 officers with the Wilson Police Department were working off-duty at Oscar’s Night Club in Wilson when they were approached by an unknown female, stating that DAUGHTRIDGE was in possession of a firearm and had pointed it at her.  Officers approached the vehicle that the woman stated DAUGHTRIDGE occupied, had the driver put the car in park and gave commands to DAUGHTRIDGE to show his hands.  DAUGHTRIDGE was not compliant with the commands and officers pulled him from the vehicle.  Once out of the vehicle and arrested, officers observed and seized a firearm underneath the passenger seat.  During the search of DAUGHTRIDGE’s person, officers seized what was believed to be 4 ecstasy pills and 18 packets of cocaine. 

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.   Since 2017 the United States Department of Justice has reinvigorated the PSN program and has targeted 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 effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

This case was brought using the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.  This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violence crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Nash County Sheriff’s Office, Wilson Police Department, Greenville Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).  Assistant United States Attorney James Kurosad prosecuted the case for the government.