Kevon Bracey, a 26-year-old resident of Wilmington, has been sentenced to 196 months in prison followed by six years of supervised release. This decision comes after Bracey fled from police while carrying a bag containing cocaine and a fully automatic machine gun. On September 3, 2024, he pled guilty to the charges.
Court documents reveal that on February 22, 2024, the Wilmington Police Department was investigating narcotics activity in the South Turners Run area. Officers approached a vehicle where Bracey was a passenger. He exited the vehicle with a bag and attempted to flee on foot but was detained after a brief chase. The discarded bag was found to contain a loaded 9mm handgun converted into a fully automatic machine gun with an extended magazine, along with quantities of crack and powdered cocaine.
Bracey is identified as a validated gang member with an extensive criminal history. His past convictions include possession of a stolen firearm and intent to distribute heroin in 2017, possession of a firearm by a felon and discharging it within city limits in 2020, and further firearms offenses in 2021. These prior convictions prohibit him from possessing firearms.
The investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative aimed at identifying and dismantling high-level drug traffickers and criminal organizations using coordinated efforts across federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Michael F. Easley Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced the sentencing following proceedings led by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) along with the Wilmington Police Department conducted the investigation, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo prosecuted the case.
