FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

THURSDAY - March 18, 2010

GOLDSBORO FELON SENTENCED FOR UNLAWFUL FIREARM POSSESSION

RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court today United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced JEROME DEMOND WRIGHT, 26, of Goldsboro, North Carolina, to 120 months’ imprisonment followed by three years supervised release.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on April 22, 2010. On October, 20, 2009, WRIGHT pled guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

On June 8, 2008, a Goldsboro police officer, on routine patrol, observed a vehicle with an equipment violation. A traffic stop was performed. After inquiring about a license and receiving an unsatisfactory response, the officer asked WRIGHT to exit the vehicle. WRIGHT refused. WRIGHT then pulled out a firearm from within the vehicle and pointed it at the officer. WRIGHT fired at the officer, hitting him twice. The officer, though seriously injured returned fire, shooting WRIGHT in his buttocks. WRIGHT then threw the gun and a bag of marijuana under his vehicle.

Mr. Holding commented, “The Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative has given the federal government the opportunity to prosecute serious crimes such as this one. We take seriously those who try to harm the individuals responsible for maintaining public order and protecting citizens. We appreciate and are thankful for the men and women who put their lives on the line while carrying this responsibility.”

This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods(PSN) which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Goldsboro Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jane Jackson represented the government.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.