Winterville Man Found Guilty On Six Drugs And Firearms Charges

RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court JOHN ANTHONY PETERSON, 27, Winterville, North Carolina, was found guilty on all six counts of the Superseding Indictment, which was returned by a Federal Grand Jury on December 12, 2007. The trial was held before Senior United States District Judge W. Earl Britt.
 
On February 7, 2007, a confidential informant, working at the direction of the Greenville Drug Task Force, purchased 28 grams of crack cocaine from PETERSON for $1000 at a residence in Ayden, North Carolina, in Pitt County.
 
On February 14, 2007, the confidential informant again purchased 53.9 grams of crack cocaine from PETERSON for $2000 at the same location.
 
On March 7, 2007, the Greenville Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at the residence. When officers arrived to execute the search warrant, PETERSON ran down the stairs from the residence and into a field. He was apprehended after a brief pursuit, and bags of crack cocaine and marijuana were found in his pant pockets, along with a key to the residence. Two bags of powder cocaine that PETERSON had thrown down were recovered on the ground nearby.
 
Inside the residence was additional crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and marijuana, along with ecstasy pills, two digital scales, four loaded firearms, and dozens of rounds of ammunition. The firearms found were a Sportarms .38 caliber handgun, a Ruger P90DC handgun, a Jennings 9 millimeter handgun, and a Norinco SKS 7.62 x 39 millimeter rifle. Officers also found a video surveillance system that had not yet been installed.
 
“This conviction is taking another drug dealer of our streets. I am pleased with the verdict and pledge that my office will continue to tenaciously work with federal, state and local law enforcement to remove drug dealers from our communities,” stated Mr. Holding.
 
The maximum penalty for the conspiracy charge is life imprisonment, a $4,000,000 fine and 5 years supervised release. Distribution of more than 5 grams of crack cocaine is punishable by up to 40 years imprisonment, a $2,000,000 fine, and 5 year supervised. For the charges of possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine, a quantity of cocaine, a quantity of marijuana and a quantity of MDMA and distribution of more than 50 grams of crack cocaine, the maximum penalty is life imprisonment, a $4,000,000 fine, and 5 years supervised release. For possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, the maximum penalty is life imprisonment, consecutive to any other term of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and 5 years supervised release. Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.
 
Sentencing has been set for July 7, 2008.
 
Investigation of the case was conducted by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Greenville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Eric Goulian served as prosecutor for the government.
 
 
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