Raleigh Felon Sentenced After Pulling a Firearm on Officers During a Drug Investigation

NEW BERN, N.C. – Rakim Royster of Raleigh was sentenced today to 57 months in prison for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.  Royster pled guilty to the charge on March 25, 2021.    

According to court documents and statements made during hearings, in February 2020, the Raleigh Police Department received tips of drug activity at Royster’s Raleigh home.  Law enforcement used a confidential source to make two controlled purchased of cocaine from Royster on February 25 and 28.  The next day they obtained and executed a search warrant on Roster’s residence. 

On February 29, 2020, prior to executing the search warrant, officers conducted a traffic stop to take Royster into custody.  As they approached the car, Royster lifted his right hand from between the seats and pointed a handgun toward the approaching officers.  But then he quickly dropped the gun and raised his hands to surrender.  From the car’s floorboard, officers seized a Polymer80 9mm handgun with an extended magazine.

Officers then searched Royster’s home, where they found digital scales, baggies, and small amounts of cocaine and marijuana.  They also recovered multiple 9mm magazines and bags of both 9mm and 40 caliber ammunition.  Royster admitted to selling cocaine and heroin and stated that he carried the firearm for protection.   

Even though the handgun Royster possessed was a Polymer80 handgun (sometimes referred to as a “ghost gun”), it was nevertheless a firearm under federal law, including for purposes of sentencing under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which led to the significant sentence Royster received.       

G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Raleigh Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Smith, Jake D. Pugh, and Laura Howard prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-cr-0320-FL.