Maxton, North Carolina man Larry Lowery, 43, was sentenced to 192 months in federal prison for illegally possessing two firearms, marking the latest chapter in a criminal history stretching over two decades. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III, exceeds the mandatory minimum due to Lowery’s repeated felony convictions, underscoring the court’s stance on habitual violent offenders.
On February 13, 2018, Robeson County Deputies arrested Lowery on charges of breaking and entering after he burglarized two local businesses. During the arrest, officers discovered two stolen firearms in his pockets—weapons directly tied to the break-ins. Court records reveal Lowery has nine prior felony convictions for breaking and entering, disqualifying him from legally possessing any firearm under federal law.
Lowery pleaded guilty on January 30, 2020, to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Prosecutors invoked the Armed Career Criminal Act, which applies to defendants with three or more prior violent felony convictions. With his record—including unlawful entry into a middle school and a church at age 37—Lowery qualified for enhanced sentencing, triggering a mandatory minimum of 180 months.
Judge Dever ruled that a sentence above the minimum was necessary, citing public safety and the need to uphold respect for the law. The 192-month term reflects both the gravity of Lowery’s latest offense and the pattern of predatory behavior that has plagued Robeson County for years. He will face supervised release following his incarceration.
The case was investigated by the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J.D. Koesters. It falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal initiative aimed at curbing violent crime through coordinated local, state, and federal enforcement. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina leads PSN efforts through its Take Back North Carolina Initiative.
U.S. Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. confirmed the sentencing outcome, emphasizing the government’s commitment to holding repeat offenders accountable. Court documents for the case, numbered 7:18-CR-120-D, are available through the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or via PACER. This conviction adds to the DOJ’s 150th-anniversary year of enforcing federal law across the nation.
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Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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