A Sumter, South Carolina man has been sentenced to two decades in prison following a reckless high-speed pursuit with law enforcement. Shoun Lamelle Wright Jr., 28, has been convicted of charges including drug trafficking and firearms offenses. The announcement came according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
On August 4, Wright pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute various drugs and possession of a firearm by a felon. In the events that led to his arrest, Wright attempted to escape state troopers at speeds reaching up to 135 miles per hour, an act highlighted by U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. as not only futile but dangerous. “This armed drug runner tried to flee from state troopers at 135 miles per hour before ditching his dope out the driver’s side door,” said Easley in a statement onU.S. Attorney’s Office. “Running from law enforcement never works, and puts innocent motorists at risk.”
Colonel Freddy Johnson Jr., Commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, also remarked on the case, emphasizing the danger it posed to not only law enforcement but the unsuspecting public. “Our mission is to ensure the safety of our state’s motorists and inhabitants,” he told theU.S. Attorney’s Office. Jacksonville Police Chief Jarad Phelps echoed these sentiments, expressing gratitude that no community members were physically harmed due to Wright’s actions.
This incident came to light following a traffic stop on July 21, 2021, when Wright initially pulled over then sped away as the trooper approached. A subsequent investigation by the N.C. State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) and Jacksonville Police Department, in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, brought to bear charges against Wright. Court documents revealed Wright had a history of criminal behavior, including prior felonies that legally barred him from possessing firearms or ammunition. On the occasion of Wright’s capture, a significant quantity of drugs and several illegal firearms were to be seized from his possession.
The cooperative efforts of the NCSHP, Jacksonville Police Department, the FBI, and the subsequent decision by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle to incarcerate Wright for 20 years marks a significant chapter of legal enforcement in North Carolina.
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