In Separate Cases, Two Others also Sentenced on Federal Gun Charges
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad, Jr. sentenced yesterday a Charlotte man to 15 years in prison for a federal firearms violation, announced Jill Westmoreland Rose, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Jesmene Lockhart, 26, was also ordered to serve three years under supervised release after he is released from prison.
According to the filed court documents and statements made in court, on Sept. 27, 2014, law enforcement officers responding to a 911 call approached Lockhart’s vehicle, which was parked near Marlow Avenue in Charlotte. The officers seized from the driver-side floorboard a pistol loaded with a 31 round magazine and one bullet in the chamber. Officers also recovered from the pocket of the driver’s side door a fully loaded 10 capacity magazine. Court records show that Lockhart has a prior offense and is prohibited from possessing a handgun. He pleaded guilty in July 2015 to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Court records indicate that Lockhart was convicted in 2006 of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and robbery with a dangerous weapon and at sentencing he qualified as an armed career criminal.
The investigation was handled by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Dillon prosecuted the case.
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In two separate cases, Judge Conrad also sentenced two Charlotte men on federal gun charges. Laquan Marcell Wilson, 37, and Michael Lamar Perry, 29, were sentenced to 84 months and 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release, respectively. They each pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Perry also pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
According to court documents and court proceedings, on June 23, 2014, CMPD officers arrived at an apartment complex located at the intersection of Milton Road and Barrington Drive, in Charlotte. The officers approached Wilson, who was standing with a group of people in an area that is recognized by law enforcement as an open air drug market. According to court records, officers recovered from Wilson a handgun, which was tucked into his waistband, and illegal substances, including crack cocaine and marijuana cigarettes. Court records show that Wilson has a prior offense and is prohibited from possessing a handgun.
Court documents filed in Perry’s case show that on Sept. 11, 2013, CMPD officers arrived at a residence located on Lexington Circle, in Charlotte, in response to complaint regarding drug activity. As the officers approached the residence, they observed Perry through the open front door, reaching into a kitchen cabinet that contained what appeared to be marijuana. Officers entered the residence and while executing a search warrant they seized drugs, over $10,000 in cash and a revolver and ammunition which belonged to Perry. Court records show that Perry has a prior felony conviction and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
At sentencing, both Wilson and Perry received sentencing enhancements for possession of a firearm in connection with another felony offense.
ATF and CMPD handled Wilson’s investigation. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and CMPD investigated Perry’s case. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Miller prosecuted both cases.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
