A Charlotte man has been sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. Bryan Dequan Ledbetter, 48, received the sentence this week, according to an announcement made by U.S. Attorney Dena J. King.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office statement detailed the incident that led to Ledbetter's arrest. In the early morning hours of September 25, 2022, Ledbetter broke into a woman's home through a bedroom window. The victim, who was acquainted with Ledbetter, managed to escape and call 911. Ledbetter then physically attacked her on a neighbor's porch and discharged a firearm into the air before police arrived. Court records indicate that Ledbetter had previous state convictions, including assault on a female and felony assault by strangulation, making it illegal for him to possess a gun or ammunition.

Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPF), were recognized by U.S. Attorney King for their roles in the investigation. Ledbetter ultimately surrendered to law enforcement at the scene, after initially refusing to relinquish his firearm while holding the victim at gunpoint.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. As stated in the announcement, the Department relaunched the program in May 2021 with objectives that include fostering trust in communities, backing organizations preventing violence, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring results of these efforts. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erik Lindahl led the prosecution for this case.