A federal jury has convicted Onslow County’s Jourden Tairee Shepard, 23, on two counts of a three count indictment after a week-long trial in U.S. District Court in Raleigh. Shepard was found guilty of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession with the intent to distribute quantities of fentanyl and cocaine, while he had previously pled guilty to count two of the indictment.
According to court records, Shepard’s vehicle was stopped on August 14, 2020, by the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit after he was observed engaging in activity consistent with narcotic sales at an open-air drug market known as ‘The Hill’. Officers found a loaded Glock 17 handgun, bundles of fentanyl, crack cocaine, and $2,246 in cash in the center console of the vehicle.
Shepard had been previously convicted of multiple felonies. The evidence presented at trial revealed that Shepard was involved in narcotic sales and was in possession of the firearm and narcotics at the time of the stop. The conviction is a significant blow to the ongoing narcotics trade in Onslow County and serves as a reminder of the importance of law enforcement’s efforts to disrupt and dismantle these operations.
The Onslow County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Crime Lab investigated the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Boykin prosecuting the charges. Shepard is set to be sentenced on October 12, 2021.
G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge W. Earl Britt accepted the verdict. Acker stated, ‘The conviction of Jourden Shepard is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our law enforcement partners in the Eastern District of North Carolina. We will continue to work tirelessly to disrupt and dismantle the narcotics trade in our communities.’
The case serves as a reminder that law enforcement is actively working to combat the ongoing narcotics crisis in Onslow County. The conviction of Shepard is a significant step in that effort and highlights the importance of community cooperation and support in the fight against narcotics trafficking.
The jury’s verdict is a significant blow to Shepard and the ongoing narcotics trade in Onslow County. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to disrupt and dismantle narcotics operations in the region and serves as a reminder of the importance of community cooperation and support in the fight against narcotics trafficking.
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. 7:20-cr-00201-BR-1.
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Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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