RALEIGH - The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that in federal court today, United States District Judge James C. Dever III sentenced TYRONE SAVAGE, 21, of Tarboro, to 30 months imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release.
On May 31, 2018, SAVAGE pled guilty to a single-count indictment that charged him with possession of a firearm by a felon.
The evidence established that, during the evening of Aug. 25, 2017, the Tarboro Police Department conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle playing music loudly. The car contained five occupants and smelled of alcohol and marijuana. Officers performed safety pat downs of the vehicle occupants. During the pat down, SAVAGE was found to have a Hi-Point, Model C9, 9mm pistol in his right, front pocket. SAVAGE was subsequently arrested on state charges.
According to law enforcement, and as presented in open court, SAVAGE is a validated gang member. In addition, SAVAGE has previously been convicted of assault with a deadly weapon and felony possession of heroin. SAVAGE was found in possession of the firearm while still serving a term of probation on the felony possession of heroin offense.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Tarboro Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Melissa Belle Kessler represented the United States in this case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
