High Point Man Convicted of Drug and Firearm Offenses

GREENSBORO, N.C. - On Thursday, January 16, 2020, following a three-day trial in Greensboro, a jury in federal court found a High Point resident guilty on four felony charges, announced United States Attorney Matthew G.T. Martin of the Middle District of North Carolina.

The jury found JABRELL CRAIG SMITH, age 27, guilty of possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, knowingly possessing a firearm after previously being convicted of a felony offense, and knowingly possessing an unregistered firearm.

Evidence presented at trial showed that on May 29, 2017, at approximately 2:00 a.m., officers from the Greensboro Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit followed and approached a black Chevrolet Malibu in the parking lot of a gas station located at 3302 South Holden Road in Greensboro. Police found an Intratec, Tec-9, 9mm Luger firearm sticking out from under the front passenger seat where SMITH had been seated. When officers recovered the weapon, they noticed that a red dot sighting system situated on top of the weapon was turned on and that a round of live ammunition had been chambered, making the Tec-9 ready to fire. The magazine contained twenty-six additional rounds of live ammunition. In the door pocket of the front passenger seat, officers recovered a plastic baggie containing 3.32 grams of heroin. At trial, the government presented text messages, videos, and photographs that established that SMITH possessed the heroin for the purpose of distribution and that he was previously familiar with, and had access to, the Tec-9. The Tec-9 had a modification, a forward grip attached to the frame of the weapon, which made it subject to additional regulation and registration in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 11, 2020, at 9:30 a.m., in Greensboro, before United States District Judge William L. Osteen, Jr. With regard to the drug offense, SMITH faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, and a term of not less than three years of supervised release. For possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime, SMITH faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, and up to life, consecutive to any other sentence, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, and not more than five years of supervised release. For being a felon in knowing possession of a firearm, SMITH faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, and not more than three years of supervised release. For possessing the weapon subject to regulation under the National Firearms Act, SMITH faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both, and not more than three years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Greensboro Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John M. Alsup.