Daniel P. Bubar Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina
An Elizabeth City man, Rashawn M. Baum, was sentenced to 78 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The sentence was handed down after Baum pled guilty on February 27, 2025. The incident leading to his arrest occurred when Baum attempted to evade law enforcement during a traffic stop.
Officers from the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement and Elizabeth City Police Department observed Baum driving erratically at high speed. When officers attempted a traffic stop, Baum fled, resulting in a brief pursuit that ended with collisions involving two cars near a local restaurant. Baum and a passenger attempted to flee on foot but were quickly apprehended.
During the investigation, law enforcement found a green Crown Royal bag containing fentanyl in various quantities inside Baum's vehicle. A .357 semi-automatic pistol was also recovered from the scene.
U.S. District Court Judge James C. Dever III stated during sentencing that “fentanyl is destroying thousands of lives” and emphasized that the defendant chose to poison his community rather than seek lawful employment. The sentence will begin after Baum completes an unrelated state sentence in 2031.
Elizabeth City Chief of Police Eddie Graham supported the court's decision by stating that “drugs ruin people’s lives, break up families, and have a disastrous effect on our community,” asserting that such behavior “will no longer be tolerated.”
Acting United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar commented on the case: “Communities across North Carolina have been ravaged by the spread of fentanyl and other opioids, which can lead to overdose deaths.” He assured that offenders bringing these substances into communities would be prosecuted.
The announcement was made by Daniel P. Bubar following sentencing by Judge Dever III. The case was investigated by multiple agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, and Elizabeth City Police Department; it was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phil Aubart and Logan Liles.
Further details can be accessed through related court documents available on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina's website or PACER under Case No.5:24-CR-182.
