Suspect facing federal charges
By John Joyce
Published in News on February 25, 2015 1:46 PM
A Goldsboro man is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service today after compiling a slew of felony charges that makes him eligible for federal prosecution, the N.C. Department of Justice said.
Shawntana Lemarus Thompson, 26, of 419 W. Seymour Drive, is scheduled for a detention hearing in Raleigh Feb. 26.
"Everything charged in the indictment is a federal offense," said Don Connelly, N.C. DOJ communications officer.
According to the federal indictment, Thompson is facing four counts including drug charges and weapons possession.
The first count alleges Thompson knowingly possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of marijuana on or about Aug. 8, 2014. The second count specifies that on the same date, Thompson knowingly possessed a firearm as a convicted felon.
The third count is a separate charge from the first two counts, which states that Thompson's possession of a firearm is considered to be in furtherance of drug trafficking, and that the third count stems from the first count of possession with intent to distribute a quantity of marijuana.
The fourth count again charges Thompson with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, this time on Oct. 17, 2014.
According to the indictment Thompson possessed a Smith and Wesson .38 special caliber handgun, a Polish-made 9 mm, and a 7.62 mm semi-automatic rifle, all of which are to be forfeited if not already in custody.
Each count carries a minimum sentence of either five or ten years, meaning that if he is convicted, Thompson will face a minimum of 20 years in federal prison.
The Goldsboro Police Department initially made the arrests that led to Thompson's charges being adopted by federal prosecutors.
GPD failed to respond, however, to requests for comment by press time.