Raeford Man Charged with Illegal Possession of Firearms

GREENSBORO, NC – Sandra J. Hairston, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina, announced today that AARON DEON GOODE, JR. of Raeford, age 25, has been charged in federal court with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The Indictment alleges that GOODE, having been previously convicted of a felony, did possess firearms, in violation Title 18 United Sates Code Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). The charges stem from two separate incidents in August 2019 and October 2021 in Hoke County. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum term of 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years, a fine not to exceed $250,000, and a mandatory special assessment of $100. Forfeiture allegations included in the Indictment also require GOODE to forfeit both firearms. An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

“Recovering firearms from the hands of prohibited individuals is a critical step in fighting violent crime,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “The illegal possession of firearms is a serious threat to the community, and recovering these firearms helps make our streets safer.”

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office, and the Raeford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Mary Ann Courtney.

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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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