A Washington, D.C. man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for illegal firearm possession following a high-speed chase involving minors. Tavon Everett Lee Vines, 32, pled guilty on September 16, 2024, and was sentenced to the statutory maximum of 120 months in prison with three years of supervised release.
The incident occurred on January 6, 2021, when Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone conducted a traffic stop on Vines' vehicle. During the stop, Vines switched seats with a passenger while three minor children were in the back seat. Sheriff Stone observed that Vines had a firearm under his shirt. When an assisting deputy attempted to remove Vines from the vehicle, he resisted and fled in the car with the children still inside. The pursuit ended when Vines crashed into a guardrail and fled on foot.
A loaded .40 caliber firearm was found in the vehicle. Vines has two prior felony convictions for violent crimes and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar stated: "Keeping firearms out of the hands of violent criminals, especially those who assault law enforcement, is a top priority." Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone added: "This case is a great representation of how we combat the violence of criminals who live or travel through our county."
ATF Special Agent Bennie Mims emphasized that "a felon in possession of a firearm is a serious threat to public safety." The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Nash County Sheriff's Office and ATF.
The sentence was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar after Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II delivered it on February 26, 2025.
Court documents related to this case can be accessed via PACER using Case No. 5:23-cr-00147M-001.
