Raleigh Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Drug Trafficking, Firearms Offenses

RALEIGH – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that today in federal court, United States District James C. Dever III sentenced STEVEN WILLIAM NOWELL, a/k/a “Shoota,” 28, of Raleigh, North Carolina, to 180 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.

NOWELL was charged in a three-count Indictment that was issued by the grand jury for the Eastern District of North Carolina on January 10, 2018. The indictment charged him with two counts of distribution and possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base (crack) and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. On July 9, 2018, NOWELL pled guilty to one count of distribution and possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base (crack) and possession of a firearm by a felon.

In June of 2016, the Raleigh Police Department conducted controlled purchases of cocaine base (crack) from NOWELL on Bragg Street in Raleigh. On October 27, 2017, a Garner Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by NOWELL. NOWELL then jumped and ran from the vehicle, and he was observed placing his hands on his waist as if he was carrying a weapon. NOWELL was later found in a nearby wooded area. A subsequent search was conducted of that area, and a .40 caliber handgun was located, along with marijuana and NOWELL’s jacket.

This case was brought by the United States Attorney’s Office through partnerships with the Raleigh Police Department, Garner Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Lemmon.