ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Juve Markie Lequan McAlpin, 24, is headed back to federal prison for fifteen years after a brazen series of offenses culminating in his arrest for possessing an illegal firearm. The sentence, handed down today, adds to an existing criminal record and demonstrates a blatant disregard for the law, according to federal prosecutors.
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, Russ Ferguson, announced the sentencing, detailing how McAlpin was already a convicted felon on federal supervised release when he was caught with a loaded Taurus model 65 .357 caliber revolver. The weapon, recovered from the passenger-side floorboard of a vehicle at a Shell gas station in Hendersonville on April 24, 2024, had its serial number deliberately obliterated – a clear attempt to evade law enforcement.
But the gun charge wasn’t an isolated incident. Investigators connected McAlpin to a shooting just four days prior, on April 20, 2024, in Asheville. Witnesses and evidence revealed McAlpin allegedly fired two rounds into a moving vehicle at an apartment complex, striking a passenger in the leg. The victim received hospital treatment for the gunshot wound. Crucially, McAlpin was wearing a distinctive black hoodie during both the shooting and his subsequent arrest, linking him directly to the crime.
Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Asheville Police Chief Michael Lamb, joined Ferguson in condemning McAlpin’s actions. “This case highlights the relentless pursuit of individuals who endanger our communities with illegal firearms,” stated a source within the ATF. “We will continue to work alongside our partners to dismantle these threats.”
McAlpin’s fifteen-year prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to a designated Federal Bureau of Prisons facility. Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Gast, from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville, prosecuted the case, building a solid case based on forensic evidence and witness testimony.
This prosecution falls under “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels, and targeting violent crime. The operation leverages resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN), signaling a heightened federal response to criminal activity across the country. The Department of Justice is making it clear: repeat offenders will face the full extent of the law.
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Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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