United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court today United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced Cecil Kurrenthes "Sincere" Ransom, 33, to 85 months imprisonment followed by three years supervised release.

Ransom

On October 3, 2012, Ransom pled guilty to an indictment charging him with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.

The investigation began when the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office used an informant to make two controlled purchases of marijuana from Ransom from his house in Roanoke Rapids in January and February of last year.

On February 10 of last year, the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Ransom’s house and found a loaded shotgun, a small amount of marijuana, digital scales, .40-caliber ammunition, marijuana seeds and suitcases containing marijuana remnants. It was determined that Ransom was responsible for the distribution of more than 6 kilograms of marijuana.

Ransom was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to his prior felony convictions for selling cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation of this case.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Glenn Perry handled the federal prosecution.

Perry is a prosecutor with the Pitt County District Attorney's Office. Pitt County District Attorney Kimberly Robb has assigned Perry to the United States Attorney's Office to prosecute federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force criminal matters.

The assignment to the United States Attorney's Office has been made possible by grants funded by the Governor's Crime Commission.