Romar Leshawn Bartee, Jr., Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, North Carolina 2020

Raleigh Man Convicted of Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted Felon

Raleigh, NC – A federal jury has convicted a Raleigh man on charges of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Romar Leshawn Bartee, Jr., 25, of Raleigh, was found guilty yesterday of possessing a firearm despite being a convicted felon.

The crime took place on April 15, 2020, when Raleigh Police Department officers stopped a black Dodge Charger at the Sheetz gas station located at 5200 New Bern Ave. Officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle for a window tint violation and noticed that the front passenger, later identified as Bartee, exited the vehicle and fled the scene.

Video surveillance footage obtained by officers showed Bartee exiting the vehicle carrying a red bag. The bag was later located in a trash can near the Sheetz gas station building, and inside, officers found 153 pills with Xanax stamped on each one, miscellaneous clothing, and a loaded Glock Model 17, 9mm pistol with 17-9mm rounds of ammunition.

Bartee faces 120 months in prison when sentenced in October 2021. The Raleigh Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives (ATF) investigated the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel W. Smith prosecuting the case.

G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III accepted the verdict. 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. 5:20-cr-00495-D.

The case is a reminder of the importance of enforcing laws related to firearm possession, particularly for those with prior convictions. The conviction serves as a warning to those who would attempt to circumvent the law and put themselves and others at risk.

As the investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate, the law enforcement community is committed to keeping our communities safe and holding those who break the law accountable.

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