GREENSBORO, N.C. – A stolen handgun and a connection to a nightclub shooting landed Tequan Jamez Barkley, 31, of Greensboro, a federal prison sentence of 103 months. The sentencing, handed down today by Senior United States District Judge N. Carlton Tilley, Jr., underscores the federal government’s commitment to cracking down on illegal firearm possession.
Barkley pleaded guilty on February 3, 2020, to knowingly possessing a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver that had been reported stolen. The charge stemmed from an incident on June 24, 2018, when Sanford Police were investigating a shooting outside a local nightclub. A gray Chevrolet Suburban, identified as potentially connected to the incident, quickly became the focus of the investigation.
Police spotted the vehicle and observed it parking at a convenience store. Barkley, behind the wheel, was initially arrested on unrelated outstanding warrants. But a subsequent search of the Suburban, authorized by a warrant, revealed more than just an outstanding debt. A loaded .38 caliber revolver was found hidden under a plastic bag on the front passenger seat. The gun was quickly identified as stolen – reported missing in Sanford back in 2017.
The investigation didn’t stop there. Authorities obtained further warrants and subjected the firearm to forensic testing. The results were damning: Barkley’s DNA was found directly on the stolen weapon, cementing his link to the crime. This wasn’t a case of mistaken possession; Barkley knew he was handling stolen property.
Beyond the eight-and-a-half year prison term, Barkley will also serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration. He’s also been ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment fee. The case was a joint effort, spearheaded by the Sanford Police Department and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), demonstrating a coordinated approach to tackling gun crime.
Assistant United States Attorney Anand Ramaswamy prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and lengthy sentence. The Grimy Times will continue to follow federal cases across the nation, exposing the underbelly of criminal activity and holding offenders accountable. This case serves as a stark reminder: possessing a stolen firearm carries severe consequences, and law enforcement will relentlessly pursue those who endanger our communities.
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- Frederick Beverly Gets 87 Months for Felon Firearm Possession · North Carolina
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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