FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

TUESDAY - February 28, 2012

CASE OF THEFT NETS CONVICTED FELON A FEDERAL PRISON TERM OF OVER FIVE YEARS

NEW BERN - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court yesterday United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced TONY CHRISTOPHER BOWLING, 32, of Rougemont, North Carolina, to 71 months imprisonment.

On September 16, 2011, a Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment. On November 15, 2011, BOWLING pled guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to the Criminal Indictment on June 18, 2011, BOWLING, a previously convicted felon, was in possession of a Marlin .22 rifle, a Winchester 20-gauge shotgun, and a Mossburg 410 shotgun. According to the investigation, BOWLING was staying at the residence of family members. During the weekend of June 18, 2011, the family members were away from the residence. The family had a safe that contained guns and other valuables. While away, the safe was broken into and the guns were taken. It was learned that BOWLING had sold the firearms, along with other items that had also been stolen over that weekend.

In 2006, BOWLING was convicted in federal court in the Eastern District of North Carolina of making false statements in acquisition of a firearm.

This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative 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 Granville County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney S. Katherine Burnette prosecuted the case.