Diamonique Shawn Newton, a 33-year-old resident of Raleigh, North Carolina, has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Newton entered a guilty plea to the charge on March 24, 2025.
Court records and evidence presented during sentencing revealed that in February 2024, officers from the Raleigh Police Department (RPD) began investigating Newton after he posted images on his Facebook page showing him with a firearm. Aware of his status as a felon prohibited from possessing firearms, RPD continued their investigation. On February 26, 2024, Newton streamed a live video on Facebook where he was seen pointing a gun at the camera multiple times. Following this incident, RPD obtained and executed a search warrant at Newton's residence on February 29. The search resulted in the discovery of two firearms—one stolen—over 180 grams of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. Newton admitted ownership of the stolen firearm and confessed to purchasing it illegally.
Newton's criminal history includes nearly two decades of offenses with two felony convictions for possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana from 2011 and 2018. He also has a previous conviction for attempted possession of a firearm by a felon in 2013.
The announcement regarding Newton's sentencing was made by Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina following sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The investigation involved the Raleigh Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jaren Kelly and Kimberly Dixon prosecuted the case.
