North Carolina man sentenced to 57 months in prison for ammunition charge

Published 4:40 pm Monday, August 23, 2021

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Rakim Royster of Raleigh was sentenced August 17, 2021 to 57 months in prison for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of North Carolina. Royster pleaded guilty to the charge on March 25, 2021.

According to court documents and statements made during hearings, in February 2020, the Raleigh Police Department received tips of drug activity at Royster’s Raleigh home. “Law enforcement used a confidential source to make two controlled purchased of cocaine from Royster on February 25 and 28,” stated the release. “The next day they obtained and executed a search warrant on Roster’s residence.

“On February 29, 2020, prior to executing the search warrant, officers conducted a traffic stop to take Royster into custody. As they approached the car, Royster lifted his right hand from between the seats and pointed a handgun toward the approaching officers,” the release continued. “But then he quickly dropped the gun and raised his hands to surrender. From the car’s floorboard, officers seized a Polymer80 9mm handgun with an extended magazine.”

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According to the release, officers then searched Royster’s home, where they found digital scales, baggies and small amounts of cocaine and marijuana, as well as recovered multiple 9mm magazines and bags of both 9mm and 40 caliber ammunition. Royster admitted to selling cocaine and heroin and stated that he carried the firearm for protection, stated the release.

“Even though the handgun Royster possessed was a Polymer80 handgun (sometimes referred to as a ‘ghost gun’), it was nevertheless a firearm under federal law, including for purposes of sentencing under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which led to the significant sentence Royster received,” stated the release.

G. Norman Acker III, acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Raleigh Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Smith, Jake D. Pugh and Laura Howard prosecuted.

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