Michael Prescott Bobbitt, a 41-year-old Fayetteville man, is headed to federal prison for 57 months after being caught with a firearm following a violent 2018 incident at a local convenience store. The sentence, handed down yesterday in New Bern, N.C., marks the end of a case rooted in street-level aggression and a criminal history that sealed Bobbitt’s fate under federal law.
On August 11, 2018, Bobbitt walked into a volatile situation at a Fayetteville convenience store, approaching the entrance while shouting at several individuals parked nearby. The confrontation turned deadly when Bobbitt returned to his vehicle, retrieved a firearm, and began moving toward the group. Before he could fire, the others opened fire, striking Bobbitt multiple times. He survived — but not his freedom.
Court documents confirm Bobbitt had a prior federal conviction for possession of a firearm by a felon, making his rearmament a federal offense. He was charged with one count of felon in possession of a firearm and entered a guilty plea on September 18, 2019. U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan presided over the sentencing, underscoring the seriousness of armed felons re-entering public spaces with weapons.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announced the outcome, crediting a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Fayetteville Police Department (FPD). Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Stephany prosecuted the case, building a straightforward but damning record of Bobbitt’s illegal possession and dangerous conduct.
The case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal initiative aimed at crushing violent crime through coordinated local and national law enforcement efforts. In North Carolina, the program operates under the banner of “Take Back North Carolina,” assigning federal prosecutors regionally to target gun violence, drug trafficking, and attacks on law enforcement.
Related court records, including Case No. 5:19-CR-00090-FL, are available through the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or via PACER. This conviction sends a clear message: in the crosshairs of federal justice, a felon’s reach for a gun guarantees time behind bars.
Related Federal Cases
- DC Gun Trafficker Gets 13 Years · North Carolina
- Darryl Leach Gets 94 Months for Gun Crime, Witness Attack · North Carolina
- Reidsville Gunman Gets 10 Years · North Carolina
- DC Gunner Gets 13+ Years · North Carolina
- Daquez Howard Sentenced in Greenville Gun Case · North Carolina
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
WeaponsWeaponsWeaponsWeapons