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A Jacksonville man was sentenced October 20 to 144 months in prison for distributing crack cocaine, possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine and possession of a firearm by a felon, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of North Carolina. Robert Lee Henderson, 45, was convicted by a jury of the charges on June 14, 2021,

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Henderson would drive from Jacksonville to New Bern in order to sell crack cocaine.

“After selling crack cocaine to an informant in April 2019, detectives with the New Bern Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Henderson while he was traveling into town,” stated the release. “Henderson fled, driving through a crowded intersection. He was arrested a short distance later, after he attempted to flee on foot behind a store. Nearby, officers located additional amounts of crack cocaine and cocaine belonging to Henderson.”

According to the release, detectives with the Jacksonville Police Department then executed a search warrant at Henderson’s residence and located four loaded firearms, over 80 grams of cocaine, smaller quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine and over $36,000 in cash.

Henderson had previously been convicted in 2007 in federal court for possessing a firearm as a felon. He also has repeated convictions in North Carolina for drug possession, assault and accessory after the fact to second degree murder, 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 Terrence W. Boyle. The New Bern Police Department, Jacksonville Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation were involved in investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura S. Howard prosecuted.

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