U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston | U.S. Department of Justice
A Durham man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison following a guilty plea to a firearm charge. Mario Deandre Taylor, aged 44, received his sentence on November 12, 2024, which includes three years of supervised release. The sentencing took place in Greensboro, North Carolina, under United States District Judge William L. Osteen Jr.
Taylor pleaded guilty in August to being a felon in possession of a firearm, specifically a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun. Court documents reveal that on October 5, 2023, the Durham County Sheriff's Office attempted to apprehend Taylor due to outstanding state warrants related to various alleged crimes committed between July 28 and October 5, 2023. These included armed robberies and assaults.
On the night of October 5, Taylor led law enforcement on a high-speed chase through Durham's residential and business areas. During the pursuit, he ran stop signs and lights and nearly collided with a city bus. He eventually exited his vehicle with a loaded weapon and fled on foot but was captured shortly after. A K-9 unit discovered the discarded .40 caliber handgun nearby.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Raleigh-Durham Safe Streets Task Force (SSTF) and the Durham County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. An FBI Task Force Officer from the Durham County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation, while Assistant United States Attorney Laura Jeanne Dildine prosecuted.
The FBI's Safe Streets Violent Crime Initiative has been operational since 1992. It aligns federal agents with state and local law enforcement for coordinated efforts against violent crime nationwide.
