CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – Five previously convicted felons were sentenced to prison Tuesday for illegal possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson announced.
The cases are part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office ongoing efforts under Operation Take Back America to identify and prosecute repeat offenders that violate federal firearms laws. “Those who continually engage in crime using firearms are going to find themselves in the federal system,” said Ferguson, of the Western District of North Carolina. “It is illegal for felons to possess a firearm, and my office uses that statute to remove repeat offenders from the streets and reduce violence in our community.”
18 individuals charged in “Operation Take Back America” initiative
The following five defendants previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and were sentenced Tuesday:
- Timothy Demetrius Williams, 35, of Mooresville
- Term: 70 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
- Details: On August 15, 2024, officers with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department found a Glock, Model 43X, 9mm semi-automatic pistol in Williams’ jacket pocket, loaded with 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition and a round in the chamber. During the investigation, it was determined that the firearm had been reported stolen. Williams also pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen firearm.
- Luther Joseph Weathers, 28, of Monroe
- Term: 57 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release.
- Details: On June 12, 2024, CMPD officers observed Weathers seated in the front passenger seat, asleep in the vehicle. The officers placed Weathers under arrest. During the arrest, Weathers reportedly told the officers he had a firearm in his jacket pocket. Officers removed a loaded Taurus Magnum .357, firearm and ammunition. Weathers has multiple prior convictions including robbery with a dangerous weapon; it was determined that the firearm had been reported stolen.
- Damiyus Diamonte Fowler, 28, of Charlotte
- Term: 52 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
- Details: On Feb. 9, 2025, CMPD officers found a Glock with an extended magazine holding up to 30 rounds during a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Fowler was a passenger. Fowler tried to run after the officers located the firearm in a backpack. At the time, Fowler was on supervised release, and the judge sentenced him to an additional 12 months in prison.
- Jamil Omire Ali, 32, of Charlotte
- Term: 45 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
- Details: On Feb. 22, 2025, CMPD officers conducted a traffic stop, and Ali was seated in the passenger seat. Upon exiting the vehicle, officers observed that Ali was carrying a firearm in his waistband. He had several outstanding arrest warrants for assault and weapons-related charges at the time. The firearm Ali possessed was a Smith & Wesson, M&P Shield, .40 caliber, pistol, loaded with a live round in the chamber and four additional rounds in the magazine.
- Dwayne Furlow Chaney, 40, of Charlotte,
- Term: 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
- Details: On Jan. 31, 2025, CMPD officers responded to the Charlotte Transportation Center in reference to an individual observed selling narcotics. The responding officers searched Chaney and found several grams of narcotics on his person, as well as a Smith & Wesson MP40 .40 caliber pistol containing six rounds of ammunition. During the investigation, it was determined that the firearm was stolen. Chaney has a prior conviction for felony possession of a firearm and other offenses.
In making the announcement, Ferguson thanked the ATF and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department for their investigation of these cases. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte handled the prosecutions…