A Robeson County man has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for possessing a machine gun. The sentencing comes after Michai Jamill Caldwell, 24, pleaded guilty on October 9, 2024. Caldwell fired shots from a .40 caliber firearm equipped with a switch that converted it into a machine gun.
The incident occurred on June 6, 2024, at the Anubis Hookah Lounge in Fayetteville. A disagreement escalated into an altercation involving Caldwell and other patrons with the lounge's bouncer. Once the situation was under control, all patrons were removed from the building, which was subsequently closed. Caldwell returned later with another person and engaged security upon reentry. During this confrontation, he fired shots that injured several victims, including one who lost her right eye and two others who sustained serious injuries.
Following the shooting, Caldwell fled and led Fayetteville Police Department officers on a high-speed chase exceeding 120 mph through traffic. Although he initially escaped capture, he was arrested on June 21, 2024.
This conviction is part of the Violent Crime Action Plan (VCAP) initiative aimed at tackling significant violent crime drivers through collaboration between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies alongside community efforts.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Daniel P. Bubar announced the sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The case was investigated by the Fayetteville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Foxx prosecuting.
Further court documents are available on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina's website or via PACER under Case No. 7:24-cr-66-BO-BM.
