Armed Drug Trafficker with Infant in His Car Sentenced to 9 Years

<_w3a_listitem listvalue="RALEIGH" datavalue="RALEIGH"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="GREENVILLE" datavalue="GREENVILLE"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="NEW BERN" datavalue="NEW BERN"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="WILMINGTON" datavalue="WILMINGTON"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="ELIZABETH CITY" datavalue="ELIZABETH CITY">RALEIGH, N.C. - A Jacksonville man was sentenced to 108 months in prison for armed drug trafficking in Jacksonville after being found in his car with his child, a loaded gun, and drugs. On August 9, 2024, Antwone Hatchell, age 24, pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

"Mr. Hatchell is clearly a dangerous individual. Not only did he put his own 2-month-old child in danger, but he was intent to do harm within our community through the trafficking of illegal narcotics. I am thankful to the U.S. Attorney's Office and the members of the Jacksonville Police Department and Onslow County Sheriff's Office for their professionalism and dedication to keeping our community safe," said Jacksonville Police Chief Jarad Phelps.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Antwone Hatchell, was caught with illegal drugs and firearms four consecutive times in nine months. In November 2022, he was found in the car with his 2-month-old child, a loaded 9mm handgun with a high-capacity magazine, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana hidden in a diaper bag. In both February and July 2023, he was found asleep in a running vehicle, each time with a loaded gun and multiple types of controlled substances. And on a separate occasion in July, he was pulled over and found with a loaded AR-15 pistol with a large capacity magazine and red dot optic, a loaded 9mm pistol, 17.07 grams of fentanyl, 13.2 grams of cocaine base, and other contraband.

Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by <_w3a_listitem listvalue="Choose an item."><_w3a_listitem listvalue="U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle" datavalue="U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan" datavalue="U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III" datavalue="U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II" datavalue="Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="Senior U.S. District Judge W. Earl Britt" datavalue="Senior U.S. District Judge W. Earl Britt"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="Senior U.S. District Judge Malcolm J. Howard" datavalue="Senior U.S. District Judge Malcolm J. Howard">U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Jacksonville Police Department and the Onslow County Sheriff's Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles E. Loeser prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:24-CR-11-D.