Johnnie O’Neil Lewis, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, North Carolina 2017

Raleigh, North Carolina – In a shocking turn of events, a Kittrell man has been sentenced to 60 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

On June 1, 2017, the Henderson Police Department responded to a call regarding an intoxicated individual who was shooting a gun in a residential neighborhood. The HPD encountered Johnnie O’Neil Lewis, a convicted felon, walking in the middle of the roadway, holding his hand near his waistband.

Lewis was observed with his hand on a pistol in his waistband and was issued repeated commands to stop moving; however, Lewis failed to comply with the directives and fled on foot. A brief foot chase ensued, but officers were able to apprehend Lewis without further resistance.

Upon his arrest, the HPD located a pistol approximately twenty feet from where Lewis was arrested. Additionally, a handgun magazine was lying on the ground next to Lewis, who also had thirteen rounds of ammunition in his shorts pocket. At the time of his arrest, the HPD smelled a strong odor of alcohol on Lewis’ breath.

Lewis was named in an Indictment filed on August 8, 2017, and subsequently pled guilty to being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition on October 18, 2017.

The Henderson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the criminal investigation of this case. Assistant United States Attorney S. Katherine Burnette handled the prosecution of this case for the government.

The sentence of 60 months of imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release was handed down by United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle in federal court. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

Robert J. Higdon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announced the sentencing, stating that the community is safer with Lewis behind bars.