Greenville Man Sentenced to 96 Months in Federal Prison for Firearm and Obstruction of Justice Charges
GREENVILLE, North Carolina – Ricky Jay Ball, 40, of Greenville, was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison followed by 3 years of supervised release on January 1, 1970.
The indictment charged Ball with one count of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Felon, two counts of Obstruction of Justice, and one count of Altering a Military Discharge Certificate. On September 11, 2017, he pleaded guilty to the charges.
According to the investigation, Ball claimed to work for the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) and told an intern with the Greenville Fire Department (GFD) that he was in court often due to his job. He also told her he could get her parking tickets dismissed, but the intern became suspicious when she received a late notice in the mail for unpaid parking tickets.
As early as November 17, 2015, Ball’s name appeared in police reports with the GPD as a loss prevention officer (LPO) for Sears in Greenville. He established a working relationship with members of the GPD and Pitt County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), and asked several police officers if they wanted to shoot firearms with him on the firing range.
On May 28, 2016, the GPD arrested Ball for Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer. During a search of his residence, the PCSO seized a 9mm pistol, four pistol magazines, and numerous rounds of ammunition from his bedroom closet. Law enforcement later learned the firearm was purchased by a man in Asheville, North Carolina.
On June 30, 2016, the seller was interviewed by investigators and stated he sold the firearm to an individual who identified himself as Ricky Bennett, an alias of Ball. He stated he exchanged firearms with Ball (a/k/a Bennett), trading the recovered Springfield 9mm handgun with magazines for a Sig 9mm elite handgun. On June 6, 2016, the GPD arrested Ball for Possession of a Firearm by a Felon at his residence in Greenville.
On May 17, 2017, a Probation Violation Hearing was held in the United States Magistrate Court in New Bern, North Carolina to revoke Ball’s federal probation based on his conduct of possessing a firearm as a felon and impersonating law enforcement. During that hearing, Ball submitted numerous false and fabricated documents to the Court. Those documents included fraudulent letters from his employer, community-services providers, and medical providers. Additionally, Ball altered a Military Discharge Certificate, DD-214, and changed his separation from the United States Marine Corps from.
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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