Anthony Earl Rivers, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, North Carolina 2022

Convicted Felon Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Possessing a Firearm in New Bern, North Carolina

New Bern, North Carolina – In a shocking turn of events, 25-year-old Anthony Earl Rivers of Mount Olive has been sentenced to 46 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The sentencing took place on May 4, 2022, in federal court.

Rivers, who was operating under the alias ‘Worm’, was seen driving another individual who had been involved in an assault with a firearm on Claytor Street in Mt. Olive, according to the Mt. Olive Police Department. The police department received a tip from a confidential informant on May 4, 2012, which led to the discovery of Rivers and the other individual a few blocks away on Slocum Street.

When officers attempted to stop Rivers, the passenger jumped out of the vehicle and ran on foot. Rivers was left momentarily alone in the driver’s seat of his car. The actions that followed were captured on the exterior video camera of a Mt. Olive police cruiser, which showed Rivers quickly exiting his vehicle and leaning down into a bush located within a few feet of the car.

Despite not locating a firearm initially, officers discovered the firearm, an Armscor model Citadel, .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, located in the bush adjacent to the car. Rivers initially denied knowledge of the firearm but later made statements admitting that he had ‘stashed’ the firearm.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) with the assistance of the Mt. Olive Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney William M. Gilmore represented the Government.

The exact criminal charges brought against Rivers include Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g) and 924. Rivers will serve 46 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.

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